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Extradition of senior Libyan official was 'based on court ruling'

August 1, 2015 at 11:45 am

Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda movement said on Friday that the government led by its former leader Hamadi Jebali extradited the former Libyan Prime Minister Al-Mahmoudi al-Baghdadi in 2012 based on a court ruling issued in Tunis, Anadolu has reported.

On Tuesday, the Libyan Appeal Court in Tripoli sentenced Al-Baghdadi and seven other Gaddafi-era officials to death, including the late dictator’s son, Saif Al-Islam.

As soon as the death sentences were announced, there was widespread criticism of Tunisia’s extradition of Al-Baghdadi. However, according to Ennahda, Tunisia’s position was natural as both the Tunisian and Libyan judiciary were respected. “The mutual agreements between the two countries were also respected,” Ennahda’s statement said, noting that other neighbouring countries have also handed over officials.

The Islamist movement said that the propaganda on this issue is part of a campaign to defame it and the Jebali government. It reiterated that the handover was a “sovereign Tunisian decision” and it was arranged with a legitimate Libyan government. It also insisted that the official was handed over after guarantees by the Libyan government to respect Al-Baghdadi and his right to a fair trial.

Al-Baghdadi fled to Tunis in August 2011 and was arrested for entering the country illegally. On 27 October 2011, a Tunisian court released him. He was later arrested and handed over to Libya based on a court ruling dated 24 June 2012.