Human rights in Libya

Bad habits

The new rulers must ensure that the victors do not imitate the vanquished

See article

Readers' comments



Human rights should be taken account in the new Libya, as they should be in any country in the world. As a human you are born with the right to life and many other different rights and those rights should never be taken away or infringed upon. If this is true then the killing of the pro Gaddafi is an absolute atrocity. Those people have the right to life and the right to hold their own opinions, just because someone does not agree with them does not mean they have the right to kill that person. If someone does not agree with you you should always try your best to agree to disagree and if not then you should part ways and try your best to not see that person again. In any case the best "revenge" that I can think to take revenge on the pro-Gaddafi forces is to completely turn the country around and change everything that was wrong with the country in the first place. There is no need to kill someone just because their ideals are different than your own.


I feel that Libya made the best decision by not even attempting to execute or torture Quadafi anywhere near their country because it would have only caused more of a problem. Now that he is gone, I think it is critical to treat each person that is captured with respect like the article mentioned. This will take their country to another level where they will be respected and I feel this is where Libya needs to be at this time.


Since human rights are such a new and foreign concept to the current Libyan youth generation (the driving force of their culture), it is very likely that it will take 1 to 2 generations for these values to sink in and become part of the cultural norm. Large societal changes like that come with a sense of a "lost generation", in that the generation who enforces the changes never fully adapt to those changes (but they do so for the good of the future generations, to which those changes become instinct). This theory poses a threat to the viability of these new Libyan human rights in the long term.


It is crucial that human rights are emphasized in all of Libya. The upcoming generation of Libyans are going to be taking the ropes and calling the shots in the country so it is good to see that they are learning about democracy and human rights. It is good to see that the people in the country are headed in the right direction. Libya is starting over and they might need some outside help.

Lopsided hat

Introducing human rights to a place where it has been non-existent for so many years can be a bumpy road. Of course they deserve these rights as all humans do but I feel it will be a rough road for Libya ahead. Hopefully the rival militia groups do not start fighting for power and their rights and forgetting about the rights of others.


This is a good sign that they are trying to fix the wrongs and make sure they do not happen again for the future, this is called learning from the past. Incorporating human rights into there societal laws, will increase the potential for Libya into becoming a stable country and power. As the younger generation are being raised in community were there natural human rights and accounted for, will help develop them to become good leaders and civilians, that will benefit Libya in many positive ways.


With a the Defeat of Muammar Qaddafi there is now a void that needs to be filled. However, the manner in which Muammar was defeated would most likely point to another military leadership or dictatorship, or at least some similarities in punishment or lack of rights. Civil rights needs to be one of the major concern for where the new Libyan government needs to focus since that is one of the major reasons for the revolution in the first place.


Historically, the very concept and idea of fundamental human rights is a relatively new phenomenon which is still trying to gain a footing and become acccepted practice, if not all over the world then at least in those parts of the world that aspire to be described as civilised,progressive,decent and modern.However,Amnesty International and other human rights groups will tell you that in a majority of countries across the world,even those who give lip- service to the respect for human rights,there are unfortunately all too often disturbing violations.More troubling though is when [ even ] the most powerful and influential countries on the council -U.S.A. and China, continue transgressions against human rights laws and jurisprudence totally ignoring calls for them to lead by example.
If major countries like those just mentioned, flout the preservation of human rights routinely,what chance is there for less developed countries and societies towards adopting the protection of human rights as a matter routine ?
Much as one lauds the efforts of various human rights groups toward trying to change the culture of those in power by encouraging them to adopt rules and practices relating to the protection of human rights,it would be naive to expect that a culture which has been accepted and practiced in countries for centuries would suddenly be given up or simply vanish.A few short courses given by some human rights organisations cannot change deeply endemic cultures and beliefs.With respect to Lybia and Lybians, where today there are rumours of the reintroduction of the Sharia law into the body politic,Islam is such a deep part of the culture there, that in order to appreciate violations of human rights and the extent to which the adoption of human rights rules would be accepted or rejected, one would need not only to look at Lybia but to the rest of the wider Arab world and also other parts of the world where Islam is practiced.The truth regretfully is that Islam is a violent and revengeful belief - honestly,I make no moral or value judgement here - I am only trying to be objective,although perhaps not politically correct.The truth is harsh corporal and capital punishment is still accepted and acceptable among most muslims.One then asks,what is the likelihood that an arcane ideology, such as the repect for human rights,which forms no part of their culture,would be easily accepted.One has to be realistic,and much as I respect those who are making an effrot towards making the world a better place,we should be under no illusion that the world is going to change overnight.Yes,those who possess more noble ideals should do all they can to impart some of their idealism on those who have not yet come to appreciate such refinement,but in doing so they should not delude themselves into thinking that once a more nobel and superior idea has been presented it means it would be adopted.


Libya needs to take more credence that there are serious threats to the society of Libya without entering into a system that takes into consideration the rights of all humans. From a region without any sense of human rights this will be an incredibly hard task. Libya is by no means likely going to happen very soon.


The rebels have to make sure that they do behave using some type of human rights, else they be the same as Gaddafi. I mean I would think everyone there is still uneasy about people still supporting him, but they need to remember the reason they started the revolution, and that was to free themselves and the country from Gaddafi. Even if the people do support him, still no reason to treat them harshly. If they do, it is nothing but but them reversing the roles.


I am anxious to see how Libya will survive with a lack of government, and radicals that made it that way. These people obviously have no concept of human rights because they never had any. Hopefully, these human rights classes work, or Quadafi might as well still be in power because things will go right back to how they were.

Sir Pumpkin Longshanks

Libya is going to have a long road before they get to democracy and human rights. They need to stop seeking vengeance and performing the same monstrosities on their enemies as they did to them. Some people will never forget, and this "witch hunt" will probably continue for years. It's a shame because in the end it will just hurt the Libyans.

What about Bob

try establishing rule of law and equal standing before the law, irregardless of what the law is, before attempting to go for even a larger culture change human rights.

Without rule of law trying to establish human rights is pointless.


Libya's hangover is having to start from scratch!

Libya might not choose the right path but at least they are able to talk, discuss, argue and choose themselves.

There are many countries that have thrown off totalitarianism that can teach Libya some lessons on how to build a true civil society - many just across the Mediterranean.

Let’s just hope they don’t do a slow slide back like Russia and South Africa.


Not to be vulgar but I believe Quadafi was sodomized with a glass bottle before he was killed.

But who really cares? He was a pig.

Invest some of that Oil money in education and science. Then the natural empathetic "better angels of our nature" will surface.


The majority of the Libyans fighting are from a younger generation. Like any younger generation, they are prone to more impulsive actions without taking a lot of time to think about the consequences. As the article suggests that human rights were not so much as violated as they were non-existant. Even though they have been learning about it, they are not old enough nor do they have enough influence to fully understand the concept. Additionally, its a completely NEW concept...completely different from what they are used to. I feel that this has lead to their actions, however I am not in any way supporting their actions. As the subtitle states, it is the new rulers responsibility to make sure the winners do not turn into the power they just overthrew.


It is very important that human rights are taken into account in Libya. If the people want to continue to advance and improve their country they must start by respecting each other. If there is no respect for human rights Libya will be a complete mess. The fact that students are learning about human rights and how they need to be applied is a step in the right direction because the younger generation can pass it down to the next.


Latest blog posts - All times are GMT
World Cup predictions: Scoring ourselves
Graphic detail 1 mins ago
Car technology: Turbocharged
Schumpeter July 12th, 9:00
Gun laws: Prayers and pistols
Democracy in America July 11th, 17:43
Daily chart: Justice on trial
Graphic detail July 11th, 13:40


Products and events



