VOORBURG, Netherlands, July 6, 2012 (AFP)
VOORBURG, Netherlands, July 6, 2012 (AFP)
The right to a fair trial of Seif al-Islam, son of Moamer Kadhafi, has been “irrevocably prejudiced”, his ICC lawyer said Friday following her release from detention in Libya.
“Irrespective of any issues concerning my own personal conduct, the rights of my client, Mr Seif al-Islam — were irrevocably prejudiced during my visit to Zintan,” said Melinda Taylor, who was freed earlier this week after being detained in Libya while visiting Seif on behalf of the International Criminal Court.
“It is the position of the defence that these recent events have completely underscored that it will be impossible for Mr Kadhafi to be tried in an independent and impartial manner in Libyan courts,” she said at a press conference in The Hague, two days after her return.
Taylor and her four colleagues were released on Tuesday after being held in Zintan southwest of Tripoli since June 7 after travelling there to help prepare Seif al-Islam’s defence.
An Australian citizen, Taylor was accused of carrying a pen camera and attempting to give Seif al-Islam, 40, a coded letter from his former right-hand man, Mohammed Ismail, who is wanted by the Libyan authorities.
The other three detained ICC staffers were Taylor’s interpreter from Lebanon, Helen Assaf, and two colleagues, Russian Alexander Khodakov and Esteban Peralta Losilla from Spain.
The four were allowed to leave the North African country as part of an agreement between the Hague-based court and the Libyan government, which are disputing where Seif should be tried.
