Libya on Friday denied it was detaining any prisoners of conscience and stressed the "integrity and freedom" of its judicial system, foreign ministry spokesman Hasuna al-Shaush told AFP.
"Libya is not detaining prisoners of conscience. The Libyan people are free to express their opinion openly within the people's committees," he told AFP, after calls Wednesday by the Libyan human rights league for prisoners of conscience to be freed.
"These accusations were made against Libya by parties who fear being prosecuted in the courts for crimes they have committed against the Libyan people," he said, without giving further details.
The league had called on the Libyan authorities to "immediately free all Libyan prisoners of conscience being held hostage" in their own country, which worked for the release of western hostages being held by Muslim rebels in the Philippines.
The non-governmental organization, which is based in Geneva, cited the case of "Libyan opposition member Mansur Kikhia who was kidnapped (in Egypt in 1993) and hundreds of others arrested, jailed, exiled or harassed" by the Tripoli regime.
Shaush, who said he knew nothing about the league, added that the Libyan justice system was "free and honest" and stressed that "Libyan courts are popular courts bringing together all the Libyan people".
"Libya respects human rights," he said – TRIPOLI (AFP)
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