The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has expressed deep concern following the announcement by the Gharyan Center for Disease Control of a confirmed Category A tuberculosis (TB) case inside the Correction and Rehabilitation Facility of the Judicial Police – Western Mountain Branch. CFJ considers this a grave indicator of the deteriorating health situation inside detention centers and the ongoing medical neglect faced by prisoners and detainees.
CFJ noted that the National Center for Disease Control has stated that it conducted medical screening for individuals who had contact with the infected detainee, and initiated the necessary diagnostic procedures. However, the committee stressed that these measures—despite their importance—do not absolve the responsible authorities of their full legal obligations to ensure a safe and healthy detention environment, including conducting regular medical examinations and early detection of infectious diseases.
CFJ condemned the chronic medical neglect prevailing in correctional and rehabilitation institutions, which is exacerbated by overcrowding, poor ventilation, and weak preventive measures. The committee warned that the detection of a TB case inside a detention facility could lead to widespread transmission, posing a serious threat to the lives of both detainees and staff.
CFJ emphasized that depriving detainees of adequate healthcare constitutes a clear violation of their rights to health and life, guaranteed under Libyan law and international human rights instruments—chief among them the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), which obligate states to provide a standard of healthcare equivalent to that available outside detention settings.
The committee called on the relevant authorities to conduct an urgent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the confirmed TB case, ensure immediate and comprehensive medical treatment for the infected detainee, carry out regular medical screening for all detainees and staff, and improve detention conditions to guarantee proper ventilation, hygiene, and healthcare services.
CFJ also urged the authorities to allow independent monitoring bodies to visit correctional and rehabilitation facilities and assess their health and humanitarian conditions. The committee stressed the need for serious and urgent measures to prevent the recurrence of such violations and to protect the dignity and fundamental rights of individuals held in detention.