TRIPOLI: Libya will investigate all cases of "torture" in prisons and bring to justice those involved in it, Justice Minister Ali Hamida Ashur told reporters on Thursday.
"The Department of Justice will investigate the issue concerning the charges by international organisations about the torture of prisoners. Those involved will be brought to justice," Ashur said as his ministry took control of a prison on the outskirts of Tripoli.
The prison in the suburb of Ain Zara is currently run by former rebels from the capital and has about 1,500 prisoners, mostly loyalists of slain Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Ashur said the charges of torture largely "related to prisons that are not under our control," adding that he had "no idea" how many such facilities were outside the control of his ministry.
He further said that a committee of officials from the ministries of defence, interior and justice had been formed to take control of all the prisons.
Last week two human rights groups, Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, reported about "widespread torture" of pro-Kadhafi men in prisons run by militias as well as officially recognised military and security entities.
The two groups said such cases were observed in prisons located in Tripoli, Misrata and smaller towns such as Ghariyan. Doctors Without Borders suspended its work in Misrata over these allegations.
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