A letter by Human Rights Watch condemns violations by militiamen in Misrata and Tawergha.

Human Rights Watch, HRW, has expressed concern at the worsening situation of the rule of law in the Libyan towns of Misrata and Tawergha. In a letter of April 8, 2012 addressed to Misrata civilian and military authorities and posted on its website, the group raises concerns about alleged continuing abuses committed by armed groups, with some amounting to crimes against humanity.

Written by HRW’s Executive Director for Middle East and North Africa Division, Sarah Leah Whitson, the letter is copied to the Libyan General Prosecutor, Abdelaziz al-Hasadi and the International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo. It urges authorities in Misrata to take immediate steps to halt the abuses and prosecute suspects. Or risk being held criminally responsible for helping and abetting the crimes before the International Court of Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands.

The group says it has in recent months documented “serious violations” by individuals and groups affiliated with anti-Gaddafi forces that were committed in a climate of impunity, admitting that these violations have occurred in many parts of Libya. It says at least seven detention facilities exist in Misrata today, some of them run by official governmental bodies and others by armed groups and militias. In addition to physical abuse, none of the roughly 3,000 detainees in the Misrata area have had proper judicial review and therefore all appear to be arbitrarily detained, the letter points out.

It alleges that Misrata militias have also been committing crimes against neighbouring Tawergha tribes people including killings, torture, looting, destruction of homes and the ongoing forced displacement of some 30,000 people. Human Rights Watch therefore proposes among others that the authorities end all abuses in detention facilities run by armed groups and militias under their effective control, support and cooperate with investigations of abuse and prosecute those suspected of wrongdoing as well as transfer all detainees to the custody of competent State authorities.

Barely a month ago, the International Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council in February 2011 released its report, citing similar abuses. The Commission said an estimated 8,000 detainees were being held in the country.