Tunisian rights group opposes al-Mahmoudi extradition to Libya

The Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights has reiterated its opposition to the extradition of former Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi to his homeland. The LDHR claims that the elements necessary for a fair trial are currently absent in Libya.

The League’s head, Abdel Sattar Bin Moussa, called on the Tunisian authorities not to extradite Al-Mahmoudi to the new Libyan authorities, claiming that this will lead to him being “tortured or physically eliminated”.

---

According to Mr. Bin Moussa, Al-Mahmoudi is suffering from ill health; he has been in prison since last September and is now forced to use a wheelchair to get around. The League is calling for him to be placed under house arrest due to his medical condition. Tunisia’s President Moncef Marzouki has already expressed his opposition to the extradition if a fair trial cannot be guaranteed.

The statement from the human rights body was made following reports that the extradition rules are based on Tunisia’s 1959 Constitution, which has been suspended since the ousting of the former regime. Under the old constitution, the head of state is not required to sign an extradition order.