In the aftermath of NATO’s destruction of Libya, official rhetoric fluctuated between transition and reports of violence which were swiftly brushed aside as mere consequences of a country struggling to embrace a democratic framework.
While this framework still forms part of UN propaganda, the infiltration of the Islamic State group in Libya – particularly in Sirte – has not only ridiculed the diplomatic gibberish, but also reflects the extent to which the international community commits human rights violations under the auspices of the UN. This leaves the targeted country prone to additional violence from armed groups.
Interviews conducted by Human Rights Watch (HRW) with residents of Sirte, form the basis of a report that details the restrictions imposed by IS, as well as the armed group’s obscene atrocities, which have rendered the area a macabre site of public beheadings and crucifixions.
Evidence of restrictions describes looting, the lack of basic necessities, the destruction of health services, forced disappearances, the obliteration of channels of communication, the recruitment of child fighters, the prohibition of political debate, harassing families to agree to their daughters marrying members of IS and the imposition of a dress code for women that sees girls as young as eight wearing the abaya, for fear of retribution from IS.
Prisoners must swear allegiance to the group as a condition of release – though this is not always enough to avoid further repercussions, an even execution.
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Exile and the remaining Sirte population
It is important to note that more than two thirds of Sirte’s population is exiled, having fled the area after NATO’s total annihilation of the city and more recently since IS established itself as an authority in the power vacuum created by Western powers.
Given the tribal character of Libyan society, combined with the aftermath of NATO’s invasion and the presence of IS, the displaced Sirte population has fragmented even further in the absence of refugee camps, leading to worsening economic problems in places such as Tripoli and Misrata.
Emergency assistance for displaced Sirte residents is negligible and does not even cover basic needs adequately. According to the report, Misrata Mayor Mohammed Eshtewi declared that 28,000 internally displaced people are seeking refuge in Misrata yet there is no financial assistance to cater to their needs.
The exiled population and those who remained in Sirte are experiencing different realities, but as always, options are limited when it comes to survival. Yet for those who have stayed in the city, an escape route may prove illusive, given IS’s control over the population.
The parody of freedom affects all aspects of life, and for the residents subjected to IS’s brutality, the tactics of survival are rapidly shifting, as demonstrated by the testimonies in the report. These accounts articulate both the horror and alleged “safety” given the group’s imposition of severe punishments for the slightest misdemeanour.
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