Libya “Detains” And “Tortures” Four Christians For Leaving Islam, Group Says

Worthy News Staff

TRIPOLI, LIBYA (Worthy News) — Libya’s feared intelligence service has “detained and tortured” four Christians for converting from Islam, as part of a wider crackdown on people embracing Christianity, human rights group said in comments monitored by Worthy News Thursday, March 12.

U.S.-based International Christian Concern (ICC) said the believers, whose names were not identified, were imprisoned for the past seven weeks in Tripoli, Libya’s capital.

“Libya’s External Security Organization is believed to be behind the detention and torture of the Christians” ICC said, citing local sources.

The security agents have reportedly barred families from visiting the detained converts and ICC said they “are putting severe physical and psychological pressure on the Christians in order to force them to reveal the names of other converts.”

“Fearing for their lives, converts from Islam are on the run,” the group added.

TORTURE REPORTED

ICC said the detention and alleged torture of the Christian converts come despite efforts by Libya to improve ties with the international community.

Libya began re-establishing relations following the recent lifting of sanctions, which were imposed due to the country’s involvement in the bombing of an American airliner, in which 270 people were killed.

However, “by torturing the four Christian converts and stifling religious freedom, Libya is once again violating basic principles of the international human rights law,” ICC said. Libyan officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

“We call upon Libyan officials to stop torturing the four Christians and release them from detention,” added ICC Regional Manager for Africa, Jonathan Racho. “Libya must respect the rights of its citizens to worship freely and not to be tortured. We particularly ask the Libyan leader and the current head of the African Union, Mr. Muammar Gaddafi, to set the prisoners free and demonstrate his country’s commitment to respect human rights.”

The group said it had urged its supporters to “pray for the safe release of the detained believers” and “for comfort and strength of their families.”

Lift this up in Prayer

10

people are currently praying.

Latest Worthy News

Fair Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Books by George Whitten

Identity in Messiah Revealed https://identityinmessiah.com

A devotional journey calling believers out of self-doubt and into confident, Kingdom-rooted identity in the Messiah.

Get it on Amazon

The Biblical Fall Feasts Revealed https://biblicalfallfeasts.com

An in-depth look at the Biblical fall feasts and their prophetic significance for believers today.

Get it on Amazon