Four ICC staff members detained in Libya; Immediate release requested

Four staff members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have been detained in Libya, since Thursday, 7 June. The ICC President, Judge Sang-Hyun Song, requests their immediate release: “We are very concerned about the safety of our staff in the absence of any contact with them. These four international civil servants have immunity when on an official ICC mission. I call on the Libyan authorities to immediately take all necessary measures to ensure their safety and security and to liberate them”. The ICC is communicating with the relevant authorities of Libya to ensure their release.
In accordance with the Pre-Trial Chamber I decision, dated 27 April 2012, the delegation travelled to Libya on Wednesday, 6 June, to meet with Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi in Zintan, in part as a privileged visit by the Office of Public Counsel for the Defence, currently appointed to represent Mr Gaddafi in the case brought against him. The delegation also included members of the ICC Registry with the view of discussing with Mr. Gaddafi the option to appoint counsel of his own choosing. Libya made a submission to the Pre-Trial Chamber ensuring that it would facilitate access to Mr Gaddafi by his lawyers. This agreement has been further confirmed during the contacts between the Libyan government and the ICC Registry.
In accordance with the unanimous resolution 1970 of the United Nations Security Council, which seized the ICC with the Libyan situation, Libya has the legal obligation to fully cooperate with the ICC, including the respect of the legal regime imposed by the Rome Statute which emphasizes the rights of the suspects to have privileged contacts with their lawyers.
The ICC hopes that the situation will be speedily resolved in the spirit of the cooperation that has existed between the Court and the Libyan authorities.
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int.