The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for an investigation into violations in prisons run by the Stabilization Support Apparatus in Tripoli.

Tripoli, June 4, 2025 (LANA) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for immediate, independent, impartial, and transparent investigations by the Libyan authorities into human rights violations in official and unofficial detention facilities operated by the Stabilization Support Force in Tripoli.

Türk said he was shocked by the revelations of gross human rights violations in official and unofficial detention facilities operated by the Stabilization Support Force in Tripoli, calling for the closure of these sites and the conduct of immediate, independent, impartial, and transparent investigations by the Libyan authorities, according to a statement published by the UN mission on Wednesday.

He added that the discoveries confirm the findings of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission, as well as various eyewitness accounts, regarding the existence of such sites and the extent of violations committed in connection with them, including torture and enforced disappearances.

He continued, "Our worst fears are now being confirmed, with dozens of bodies discovered at these sites, along with tools suspected of being used for torture and abuse, and possible evidence of extrajudicial killings." The UN official called for the closure of these sites and the preservation of all potential evidence to support immediate accountability efforts, stressing that those responsible for these horrific acts must be brought to justice without delay in accordance with international standards.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that he was disturbed by reports that Libyan forensic authorities tasked with exhuming and identifying human remains have not yet been granted access to the sites for excavation. He urged the authorities to grant full and unhindered access to all sites.

Türk called on the authorities to grant the UN access to these sites as part of its mandate to document human rights violations.

According to UNSMIL, between May 18 and 21, the UN Human Rights Office received information about the recovery of ten charred bodies from the Stabilization Support Apparatus headquarters in Abu Salim, in addition to the discovery of 67 bodies in morgues at Abu Salim and Al-Khadra hospitals.