Gaddafi's son will defend himself during the trial, as Slobodan Milosevic
Seif al-Islam, the son of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, is going to defend himself in court without the help of a lawyer, just like Slobodan Milosevic. This was announced by the Libyan jurist Ahmed al-Jehani, who is responsible for the Gaddafi-son’s case and maintains communication between the Libyan authorities and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. As Al-Jahani said, Gaddafi’s son during their last meeting asked him a number of legal questions and expressed his determination to defend himself at the trial himself.
Al-Jehani advised Seif al-Islam to seek the services of a lawyer, but Gaddafi’s son intends to defend himself as Slobodan Milosevic.
The lawyer noted that the last meeting with Seif al-Islam was held in early March, he is in good condition, “he is treated well”.
Last week, the lawyers of the retaliatory party in the International Criminal Court issued a statement stating that during the months of imprisonment in Zintan, with Seif al-Islam, they were inappropriately treated, beaten and kept in almost complete isolation.
Lawyers for the defendant at the ICC noted that Gadhafi’s son was “deprived of his rights” and is in a “legal black hole.”
At the same time, as noted by British observers, while the International Criminal Court is trying to get the Libyan authorities to extradite Seif al-Islam to the Hague court, Tripoli still can not snatch it from the hands of armed militias. They grabbed him last November in the south of Libya in the desert, and then they transported him to Zintan, where they continue to keep him in a secret prison.
Al-Jehani also noted that while the transfer of Gaddafi’s son to the Libyan government, the people of Libya are preparing to try him, thereby proving to the International Criminal Court that they can do it.
It is also reported that international lawyers who have been hired by the Libyan authorities are advising the government on the development of the capabilities of the Libyan judicial system, the updating of legislation, including the inclusion of war crimes.
Last week, the International Criminal Court rejected Tripoli’s request related to the delay in issuing Saif Al-Islam to a court in The Hague on war crimes charges. The ICC demanded that Libya fulfill the obligation “to carry out the arrest warrant” and immediately transfer it to the Hague court.
Last Tuesday, the Libyan authorities filed an appeal against such a decision. The International Criminal Court notes that, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution, Libya is obliged to cooperate with the international justice authorities. If Tripoli does not give out Seif al-Islam, this will be reported to the UN Security Council.
If the son of Gaddafi in Libya is found guilty, then he could face the death penalty. A court in The Hague may sentence the accused only to imprisonment.
Information