HRS condemns the Assassination of Activist Hanan al-Bara’si
calls on the local and international parties to put an end to killings, torture, enforced disappearances and the systemic use of violence to limit freedom of expression and terrorize societ
Human Rights Solidarity condemns the assassination of the lawyer and civil society activist Mrs. Hanan Mohamed al-Bara’si on Tuesday noon, November 10, 2020, by gunmen on Twentieth Street in Benghazi, one of the main streets in the city.
In recent weeks Mrs. al-Bara’si appeared in video recordings, broadcast live on social-media networks[1], criticizing the armed groups and tribal militias rife the districts of the city. Mrs. Hanan al-Bara’si revealed in these recordings the violations committed by these militias, including kidnappings, arbitrary detention, and seizure of citizens’ properties by force. Some of the recordings showed a group of women who spoke of being victims of rape and torture committed by leading figures of the law enforcement agencies in Benghazi.
Hanan al-Bara’si received threatening messages, which she posted screenshots on her social network (Facebook) account, and she also posted videos of tribal militias threatening to murder her. Also, few days before her assassination, a daughter of Mrs. Al-Bara’si survived unharmed an assassination attempt.
Mrs. Hanan al-Bara’si initially focused her criticism on the violations committed by agencies and armed groups affiliated with the “Interim Government”. However, one day before her death, she appeared in a video recording criticizing the conduct of the sons of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar, Khaled and Saddam, and spoke about their promotions and positions in the “Libyan Army” in an irregular way. She stated that she was not afraid of Haftar nor his sons.
The General Guild of Lawyers of Libya (the Guild) issued a statement denouncing the murder, saying it was a “systemic and cowardly act“. The Guild stated “we noticed moves by the official security apparatus in the Eastern Region [of Libya], the last of which was on Monday November 9, 2020, when they summoned the board of the Guild’s Benghazi branch and demanded from them to silence the murdered lawyer. But the Guild insisted on adhering to the legal and necessary measures in disciplinary matters”.
Human Rights Solidarity offers its sincere condolences to the family of Mrs. Hanan al-Bara’si, and calls on the local and international parties to put an end to killings, torture, enforced disappearances and the systemic use of violence to limit freedom of expression and terrorize society.
