African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights v Libya (Order of Provisional Measures) (Application No. 2 of 2013) [2013] AfCHPR 33; (15 March 2013)

IN THE MATTER OF

AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS

V.

LIBYA

APPLICATION No. 002/2013

ORDER OF PROVISIONAL MEASURES

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The Court composed of: Sophia A.B. AKUFFQ President; Fatsah OUGUERGOUZ, Vice President; Bernard M. NGOEPE, NIYUNGEKO, Augustino S. L. RAMADHANI, Duncan TAMBALA, Elsie N. THOMPSON, Sylvain Ben KIOKO, El Hadji GUISSE and Kimelabalou ABA - Judges; and Robert ENO - Registrar,

In the matter of:

AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS

V.

LIBYA

Whereas,

1. The Court received, on 31 January 2013, an application by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Applicant), instituting proceedings against Libya (hereinafter referred to as the Respondent). alleging violations of the rights of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi (hereinafter referred to as the Detainee), guaranteed under Articles 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and PeopleS Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Charter);

2. The application is brought in terms of Article 5(1)(a) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and PeopleS Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (hereinafter referred to as the Protocol), Rule 29(3) of the Rules of Court and Rules 84(2), 118(2) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Applicant;

3. The Applicant submits that, on 2 April 2012, it received a complaint against the Respondent from Ms. Mishana Hosseinioun (hereinafter referred to as the Complainant), on behalf of the Detainee, alleging that:

• The National Transitional Council, which has been recognized as the Government (the Government) in power in Libya, on 19 November 2011 It detained the Detainee in isolation and without access to his family, friends or any lawyer;
• The Detainee has not been charged with any offence nor been brought before any court;
• The address of the detenton facility, believed to be in Zintan, a town in Libya, is not known;
• The Applicant is concerned that the Detainee faces an imminent trial which carries with it the threat of the death penalty, following a period of arbitrary detention based on interrogations carried out in the absence of a lawyer;
• All these acts amount to a violation of the Detainee's rights under Articles 6 and 7 of the Charter, for which Applicant issued Provisional Measures on 18 April 2012 to stop any irreparable harm to the Detainee, and which provisional measures Respondent has, to date, not responded to;

4. The Applicant concludes by praying the Court to order the Respondent:

• Not to proceed further with any actions concerning the legal proceedings, investigation against, or detention that would cause irreparable harm to the Detainee; and
• To allow the Detainee access to a lawyer immediately and without further delay;

5. On 22 February 2013, the Registry acknowledged receipt of the application, in accordance with Rule 34(1 ) of the Rules of Court; and on 12 March 2013, the Registry forwarded copies of the application to the Respondent, in accordance with Rule 35(2) (e) of the Rules of Court, and requested it to indicate, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the application, the names and addresses of its representatives, in accordance with Rule 35(4)(a). Furthermore, the Registry invited the Respondent to respond to the application within sixty (60) days, in accordance with Rule 37 of the Rules;

6. By letter dated 12 March 2013, the Registry informed the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and through her, the Executive Council of the African Union, and all the other States Parties to the Protocol, of the filing of the applition, in accordance with Rule 35(3) of the Rules;

7. By notice dated 12 March 2013, the Registry informed the parties that! in view of the urgency and gravity of the matter, the Court was considering issuing provisional measures in the matter;

8. The Court notes that the combined reading of Article 27(2) of the Protocol and Rule 51 of the Rules of Court allows it, in cases of extreme gravity and urgency, and to avoid irreparable harm to persons, to adopt such provisional measures as it deems necessary;

9. In dealing with any application, the Court has to ascertain that it has jurisdiction under Articles 3 and 5 of the Protocol;

10. However, before ordering provisional measures the Court need not satisfy itself that it has jurisdiction on the merits of the case, but simply needs to ensure that it has prima facie jurisdiction;

11 The Court notes that Article 3(1) of the Protocol provides that "the jurisdiction of the Court shall extend to all cases and disputes submitted to it concerning the interpretation of the Charter, this Protocol and any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the States concerned"

12. The Court further notes that the Respondent ratified the Charter, which came into force on 21 October 1986, on 19 July 1986 and deposited its instruments of ratification on 26 March 1987; and further that the Respondent ratified the Protocol, which came into force on 25 January 2004, on 19 November 2003 and deposited its instruments of ratification on 8 December 2003 and is therefore party to both instruments;

13. The Court acknowledges that Article 5(1 )(a) of the Protocol lists the Applicant as one of the entities entitled to submit cases to the Court, and takes judicial notice that provisional measures, may be a consequence of the right to protection under the Charter, not requiring consideration of the substantive issues;

14. In the light of the foregoing, the Court is sa facie it has jurisdiction to deal with the application;

15. The Court notes that the Applicant, in its own request for Provisional Measures, requested the Respondent to:  

• ensure that the Detainee has access to his lawyers;  
• ensure that the Detainee can receive visits from family and friends;  
• disclose the location of his detention; and  
• guarantee the integrity of his person and his right to be tried within a reasonable time by an impartial court;

16. In view of the alleged length of detention of the Detainee without access to a lawyer, family or friends; and with due regard to the Respondent's alleged failure to respond to the Provisional Measures requested by the Applicant, and the requirements of the principles of justice that require every accused person to be accorded a fair and just trial, the Court decided to order provisional measures suo motu;

17. In the opinion of the Court, there exists a situation of extreme gravity and urgency, as well as a risk of irreparable harm to the Detainee;

18. In the light of the foregoing, the Court concludes that, pending its ruling on the main application before it, the circumstances require it to order, as a matter of urgencyl provisional measures, suo motu, in accordance with Article 27 (2) of the Protocol and Rule 51 of its Rules to preserve the integrity of the person of the Detainee and protect his right to access legal representation and family;

19. The Court notes that the measures it will order will necessarily be provisional in nature and would not in any way prejudge the findings the Court might make on its jurisdictio the application and the merits of the case.

20. For these reasons,

THE COURT, unanimously, orders the Respondent

1. to refrain from all judicial proceedings, investigations or detention, that could cause irreparable damage to the Detainee, in violation of the Charter or any other international instruments to which Libya is a party;
2. to allow the Detainee access to a lawyer of his own choosing;
3. to allow the detainee visits by family members;
4. to refrain from taking any action that may affect the Detainee's physical and mental integrity as well as his health.
5.  to report to the Court within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of this Order, on the measures taken to implement this Order.

Pursuant to Article 28(7) of the Protocol and Rule 60(5) of the Rules, the individual Opinion of Vice President OUGUERGOUZ is attached to this Order.

Done at Arusha, this fifteenth day of March in the year two thousand and thirteen, in English and French, the English version being authoritative.

Signed:

Sophia A.B. AKUFFO, President Fatsah OUGUERGOUZ, Vice-President

Bernard M. NGOEPE. Judge Gérard NIYUNGEKO, Jud

Augustino S. L. RAMADHANI, Judge  

Duncan TAMBALA, Judge

Elsie N. THOMPSON, Judge

Sylvain ORÉ, Judge,

Ben KIOKO, Judge

El Hadji GUISSE, Judge

Kimelabalou ABA, Judge;

and Robert ENQ Registrar