You may have seen the extremely disturbing video footage released over the weekend from Libya: Eman al-Obeidi forcibly dragged away by security officials Saturday after bursting into a Tripoli hotel where international journalists had gathered and saying she had been raped.
Eman al-Obeidi’s allegations are stomach-churning. The Libyan authorities must immediately launch an independent and impartial investigation and bring those responsible to justice if the allegations are well-founded.
It is troubling that Iman al-Obeidi was forcibly dragged away by Libyan security officials when she tried to speak to journalists. Libya says it has since released al-Obeidi.
The Libyan authorities have a long record of silencing those who dare speak out against human rights violations. It is all the more worrying that they did not hesitate to do this, using heavy-handed methods, despite the presence of the international media.
You're calling on the Libyan authorities to mount a full and impartial investigation into the rape of a woman? Have you been listening to news reports of their government? Would you actually believe their report if they produced one? I wouldn't.
This is absolutely despicable, and I'm repulsed to the bone. How do we as Americans say we must stand up for the rights of Libyans and let detestable things like this happen?
This is absolutely despicable, and I’m repulsed to the bone. How do we as Americans say we must stand up for the rights of Libyans and let detestable things like this happen?