VP/HR — Gadaffi trial

23.4.2014

Question for written answer E-005435-14
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Marc Tarabella (S&D) , Jean Louis Cottigny (S&D)

After a Libyan court ruled on Monday, 14 April 2014 that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and six other former senior government officials would be tried via video-link, the whole procedure threatens to turn into a farce.

On 23 March 2014, the day before the most recent court hearing, two amendments were made to the Libyan Code of Criminal Procedure specifically to make it possible for the trial to be conducted by video-link.

1. Does the Commission agree that conducting these hearings by video-link will deprive the seven defendants of their right to a fair trial? The implications are particularly worrying in the case of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who is being held at a secret location in Zintan by a militia which is stubbornly refusing to hand him over to the state authorities in Tripoli.

2. A trial of this kind will hardly be conducive to establishing the truth, in particular about the crimes Libya's former leaders may be guilty of. Does the Commission not agree that this is a strategy designed to silence the Gaddafi family and rule out any unpleasant repercussions for those currently in power in Libya, or for individuals in other countries?

3. Should the trial not be taking place in The Hague?

4. Will the Commission threaten to freeze all aid to Libya if the defendants are not tried in The Hague? If not, why not?

OJ C 413, 19/11/2014