AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

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AAAS Human Rights Action Network

FACTS OF THE CASE:

The scientists listed below are among scores of individuals arrested in Libya in June 1998. Those arrested include university lecturers, engineers, medical doctors, and civil servants. They are at risk of torture.

The arrests took place in a number of major cities. The individuals, reportedly suspected of supporting or sympathizing with the Libyan Islamic Group, a non-violent Islamist movement, were taken from their homes by security forces.

The arrests may have occurred in response to increasing political opposition. The university lecturers were reportedly suspected of being the main advocates for political change. According to Amnesty International, thousands of Islamists have been arrested in the last few years. Many are still believed to be held without charge or trial, and torture during interrogation is reportedly routine.

AAAS has obtained the following names of individuals who are among those arrested:

1. Farhat El-Houni, Laboratory Technician, Faculty of Engineering
2. Hamed Naser El-Werfalli, M.Sc. in Mathematics
3. Tareg Ahmed Bou-Zeriba, M.Sc. in Computer Science
4. Salah Omar Al-Shamekh, M.Sc. in Zoology
5. Abdel-Barie Al-A 'Rousi, Ph.D. in Corrosion Engineering
6. Abdel-la Tief Karmous, Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering
7. Sulaiman El-Fandi, Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering
8. Rajad El-Jaroushi , Ph.D. in Civil Engineering
9. Sulaiman Ali Khatroush, Ph.D., Head of Civil Engineering Dept., Faculty of Engineering
10. Abdullah Ahmed I'zedien, Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering (Arrested while giving a lecture at the Nuclear Engineering Department in Qar Younes University in Benghazi.)
11. Salem Abuhanak, Ph.D., Head of Chemistry Dept., Faculty of Science
12. Anies Hasan Gwaidhi, Student, Faculty of Medicine
13. Nazar Kraikesh, Student, Faculty of Medicine
14. Khalid El-Jazwie, Student, Faculty of Medicine
15. Hammad Beltaieb, Student, Faculty of Medicine
16. Yusef Abu-Sha'Ala, Student, Faculty of Engineering
17. Khalid El-Hashmie, Medical Doctor
18. Abdel-Rahman Abdel-Majeed El-Daibani, Medical Doctor
19. Jamal El-Majrie, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
20. Abdel-Jawad Mohamed Shatwan, M.Sc. Computer Science
21. Ali-El-Sadeg El-Houni, M.Sc. Electrical Engineering
22. Khalid El-Hashmie El-Zaroug, Engineer
23. Fawzie Wanies El-Ghadhafi, Electrical Engineer
24. Adel Saleh El-Werfalli, Agricultural Engineer
25. Ahmed Jaballah El-Meghrabie, Agricultural Engineer (Reportedly arrested near the Egypt-Libya border while trying to flee the country with his family. He was beaten in front of his family.)
26. Kamal El-Wesh, Aviation Ground Engineer
27. Faisal Mohamed El-Safi, Flight Engineer
28. Fawzie Bu-Katif, Communications Engineer
29. Ahmed Dasougi, Computer Science Engineer
30. Salah El-Zaroug El-Saa'Itie, Civil Engineer
31. E'Isa El-Zwaie, Civil Engineer
32. Khalid Mohamed Shoua'Ieb, Engineer
33. Mohammad Faraj Al-Qallal , Graduate of Institute of Administrative Sciences (Arrested on 5 June. Since 1 July, his whereabouts have been unknown.)

(Sources of information for this case include the Libyan Islamic Group and Amnesty International.)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send telexes, telegrams, faxes, or airmail letters:

• Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of any detainees held solely for the peaceful expression of their opinions;
• urging the Libyan government to treat the above-named individuals and the scores of others arrested in a manner that is consistent with international standards for the treatment of prisoners;
• requesting information about the exact nature of their arrests; and
• urging the Libyan government to make the whereabouts of the individuals known to their family members.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

His Excellency Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi
Leader of the Revolution
Office of the Leader of the Revolution
Tripoli
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
LIBYA
Salutation: Your Excellency

His Excellency 'Umar Mustafa al-Muntasir
Secretary of the People's Committee of the People's Bureau for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation
Tripoli
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
LIBYA
Salutation: Your Excellency

His Excellency Zanati Mohammad Al-Zanati
Secretary of the General People's Congress
Secretariat of the General People's Congress
Tripoli
Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
LIBYA
Salutation: Your Excellency

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