2011 Libyan rape allegations

The 2011 Libyan rape allegations refer to allegations that arose in April 2011 that Gaddafi's forces in Libya were committing mass rape during the 2011 Libyan civil war. Investgations by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch[1] and Doctors Without Borders[2] did not find first-hand evidence that mass rapes had occurred, leading some commentators to suggest that it may be an example of falsified atrocity propaganda to justify the NATO-led 2011 military intervention in Libya.[1]

2011 allegations

Allegations arose in 2011 that Viagra and other impotency drugs were being distributed by Gaddafi to sustain the rapes.[3] The charges were denied by Libyan diplomats and described as propaganda.[3] Libyan psychologist Seham Sergiwa reported a wide pattern of rapes by Libyan government soldiers during the 2011 conflict.[4] In June 2011, the International Criminal Court began an investigation into the rape allegations seeking to add the rapes to Gaddafi's list of war crimes charges.[5][6]

United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton, stated that "rape, physical intimidation, sexual harassment, and even so-called 'virginity tests' have taken place in countries throughout the region."[7] Clinton also stated that "It is an affront to all people who are yearning to live in a society free from violence with respect for basic human rights. We urge all governments to conduct immediate, transparent investigations into these allegations, and to hold accountable those found responsible."[8]

Patrick Cockburn expressed concern that misleading reports of rapes by Libyan government forces were used to justify the NATO-led 2011 military intervention in Libya.[1] In June 2011, the UN investigator M. Cherif Bassiouni did not find evidence of mass rapes.[9]

In the 1970s and 1980s there were reports of Muammar Gaddafi making sexual advances toward female reporters and members of his entourage.[10] After the civil war, more serious charges came to light. Annick Cojean, a journalist for Le Monde, wrote in her book, Gaddafi's Harem that Gaddafi had raped, tortured, performed urolagnia, and imprisoned hundreds or thousands of women, usually very young.[11] Seham Sergewa stated that five of Gaddafi's female bodyguards had been raped by him and other senior officials.[12]

Post-war

There's some information with Viagra. So, it's like a machete. It's new. Viagra is a tool of massive rape.

Luis Moreno Ocampo, ICC Chief Prosecutor[13][14]

After the civil war, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, prosecutor for the International Criminal Court, said there was evidence that Gaddafi told soldiers to rape women who had spoken out against his government.

In 2014, the new Libyan government said that compensation should be paid for the victims of rape during the war.[15]

In 2016 there were reports that African women were being raped by the same Libyan rebels who overthrew Gadhafi. This is part of a larger picture of abuse of black Africans in Libya that is emerging in the wake of the rebel victory, born of allegations that Gadhafi often hired sub-Saharan Africans to fight for him.[16]

In 2019, leaked phone calls by Gaddafi government officials were claimed by The Libya Observer as evidence that Baghdadi Mahmudi, prime minister of Libya from 2006 to 2011, had coordinated systematic rapes.[17]

See also

References

  1. Cockburn, Patrick (June 24, 2011). "Amnesty questions claim that Gaddafi ordered rape as weapon of war". London: The Independent.
  2. Krause-Jackson, Flavia; Alexander, Caroline (Jul 6, 2011). "Rape as Weapon of War Is UN Focus". Bloomberg.
  3. MacAskill, Ewen (29 April 2011). "Gaddafi 'supplies troops with Viagra to encourage mass rape', claims diplomat". London: Guardian.
  4. Sidner, Sara; Ahmed, Amir (2011-05-23). "Psychologist: Proof of hundreds of rape cases during Libya's war". CNN. Archived from the original on 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  5. Rice, Xan; Norton-Taylor, Richard; Pilkington, Ed; Stephen, Chris (9 June 2011). "Gaddafi faces new ICC charges for using rape as weapon in conflict". London: Guardian.
  6. "Gaddafi ordered mass rape as a weapon, International Criminal Court claims". London: The Telegraph. 9 Jun 2011.
  7. "Clinton accuses Gaddafi of using rape as a tool". hindustantimes. June 17, 2011.
  8. "Clinton Condemns Sexual Violence In the Mideast". VOA. 2011-07-15. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  9. "Libya rape claims 'hysteria' - investigator". Herald Sun. June 10, 2011.
  10. Harris 1986, pp. 5354; Blundy & Lycett 1987, pp. 2223.
  11. Leyla Sanai (25 October 2013). "Book review: Gaddafi's Harem, By Annick Cojean, trans. Marjolijn de Jager". London: The Independent UK. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  12. Squires, Nick (2011-08-29). "Gaddafi and his sons 'raped female bodyguards'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  13. "ICC to investigate reports of Viagra-fueled gang-rapes in Libya". CNN. May 17, 2011. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01.
  14. Libya troops using rape as a weapon. CNN. May 17, 2011.
  15. "Libya Gaddafi rape victims to be compensated". BBC. 20 Feb 2014.
  16. http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article1938633.html
  17. Assad, Abdulkader (2019-07-21). "Libya's Justice Ministry says release of last Gaddafi PM is "temporary"". The Libya Observer. Archived from the original on 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2019-07-22.

Bibliography

Blundy, David; Lycett, Andrew (1987). Qaddafi and the Libyan Revolution. Boston: Little Brown & Co. ISBN 978-0-316-10042-7.
Harris, Lillian Craig (1986). Libya: Qadhafi's Revolution and the Modern State. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8133-0075-7.
External media
Audio
Gaddafi accused of ordering mass rape, ABC News
Video
UN suspects Gaddafi approved mass-rape policy, Euronews
Gaddafi ordered mass rape, ICC prosecutor says, France 24
Gaddafi accused of using rape as weapon, BBC
Allegations Qaddafi Gave Troops Viagra-Like Medicine, Ordered Them to Rape Thousands of Women, FoxNews
Gaddafi Soldiers Given Viagra and Condoms for Rape?, Newsy.com
Gaddafi forces accused of rape, AlJazeera
Libya troops using rape as a weapon?, CNN
Gadhafi troops of mass rape, CNN
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