Media report, more a case of human smuggling: Libyan envoy

Libya today rejected a report by a US broadcaster, which alleged that modern day "slave auctions" were being held in that country, saying the case appears more of "human smuggling" than human trafficking.

At a press conference held here, Libya's Charge d' Affaires to India Khalid I A Azwai, also said, a probe has been ordered into the case.

"What has been said by some recent media reports, of bargain that appeared in form of selling or buying people of African descent, is most likely aimed at smuggling them to their last destination, Europe as immigrants, and not as slaves.
 

"And, that bargaining (as seen in a video accompanying the report) was on the cost of their transportation and not on their freedom for purpose of enslavement," he said.

The Government of National Accord (interim government of Libya) renews its condemnation of the practice of trafficking and the prohibited smuggling of human beings at all national, regional and international levels, he said.

"We affirm that any practices against migrants are nothing more than isolated practices that are not systematic and we reject and condemn them, since dealing with migrants must be in a manner that preserves their human dignity," he said.

The report, which included a video, allegedly showed men of African descent being purportedly "auctioned", sparking global outrage

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The Libyan envoy, addressing reporters at the Embassy here, also pitched for "launching an international campaign" to curb this phenomenon (human smuggling) through an immediate security course that supports the control of the Libyan authorities on its borders and the imposition of sovereignty over its entire territory.

"We stress that the issue of migrants and their suffering must be removed from political bidding, and presenting Libya as a scapegoat, for Libya and people of Libya belong to Africa, and has always supported partnership and investment in African countries," he said.

"It has opened its territory to African brothers,It has received more than two million expatriates from African countries who work in various professions and live in Libya legally with dignity and safety," Azwai said.