The Committee for Justice (CFJ) condemned the execution by firing squad of ten individuals in eastern Libya following death sentences issued by the Supreme Military Court, expressing concern over whether the proceedings complied with fair trial guarantees and due process standards.
On 23 August 2026, CFJ documented an announcement by the Military Prosecutor’s Office affiliated with the General Command of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, stating that the death sentences had been carried out against the ten individuals. According to the announcement, the convictions were based on allegations including membership in organizations described as terrorist and banned groups, as well as involvement in assassination operations targeting military personnel and civilians.
The publicly available information did not include sufficient details regarding the cases, the civilian or military status of those executed, or whether the proceedings complied with fundamental fair trial guarantees, including the right to legal defense, the exhaustion of available appeal procedures, and the opportunity to seek clemency or commutation of sentence. Available information also indicates that some families were not informed in advance of the execution decisions or their scheduled dates, and only learned of the executions after receiving calls instructing them to collect the bodies of their relatives.
The Committee for Justice stresses that official assertions that legal procedures were followed are not, on their own, sufficient to establish the fairness and integrity of judicial proceedings, particularly in light of previously documented concerns regarding proceedings before military courts in eastern Libya. These concerns have included the trial of civilians before military courts, restrictions on communication between defendants and their lawyers, limitations on defense access to case files, closed hearings, and, in some cases, reliance on confessions allegedly obtained under torture.
CFJ holds the judicial and military authorities in eastern Libya responsible for ensuring the legality of the procedures preceding the executions and their compliance with Libya’s international obligations. The Committee also calls for investigations into any alleged violations that may have occurred during detention, interrogation, trial proceedings, or the implementation of the sentences.
The Committee for Justice calls for a moratorium on the implementation of death sentences in cases where concerns exist regarding fair trial guarantees. CFJ further demands the full disclosure of information relating to the ten cases, including the legal status of those executed, the appeal procedures available to them, and the safeguards provided to them and their legal representatives.
The Committee also calls for an independent investigation into any alleged violations and for ensuring the rights of families to know the fate of their relatives, obtain relevant legal and medical documentation, and receive the bodies of those executed or be informed of their burial locations.
