Egypt condemns summary execution of citizen in Libya

Ahram Online, Saturday 23 Aug 2014

Egyptian Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed was executed extrajudicially in a football stadium in Derna, in eastern Libya last week

Egypt’s foreign ministry strongly condemned Saturday the execution of an Egyptian citizen by a Libyan militia in Derna, a ministry statement read.

Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed was executed in a football stadium in Derna, in eastern Libya, last week. A video of the incident circulated the Internet.

The foreign ministry condemned that Mohamed was not afforded his right to a fair trial. The statement called on regional as well as international parties to provide all necessary support to help Libyan authorities confront militia groups.

The statement added that Libya should be given help to rebuild the state’s institutions and return security, law and justice to the entire country.

The security situation in Libya has worsened notably in the last few weeks as rival militias battle for control. Fighting in the capital's international airport has left dozens dead and hundreds wounded.

The International Organisation for Migration estimates that between 330,000 and 1.5 million Egyptians worked in Libya until the ongoing unrest began with the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The number of Egyptian expats has dwindled since, although it is not clear how many Egyptians remain in the country.

This is not the first time that Egyptians have been targeted and killed in Libya, prompting the Egyptian authorities to issue travel warnings and organise flights to carry Egyptians fleeing Libya from Tunisia to Cairo.

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