In the first official announcement of Seif Al-Islam’s capture, Abdurrahim El-Keib said he hoped it would “turn the page on the phase of revolution and will mark the beginning of the building of a state of freedom, law, justice and transparency.
“I want to assure our people and all nations of the world that Saif and those with him will be given a fair trial, with the guarantees of local and international law — those legal processes which our own people were deprived of,” he told a news conference in the Western mountain town of Zintan, where Seif Al-Islam and several bodyguards had been taken.
Seif Al-Islam, once favorite to succeed his late father, was arrested by fighters from Zintan, who make up one of Libya’s most powerful militia factions. They said they would hold him until they could hand him over to the authorities.
The West urged Libya’s new rulers to give Seif Al-Islam a fair trial and work with the International Criminal Court to bring him to justice, fearing he might suffer the same fate as his father, who was beaten and shot dead after his capture.
“It is important for future national reconciliation that those responsible for human rights violations committed both before and during the recent conflict are brought to justice,” said a spokesman for the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.
British Prime Minister David Cameron joined calls for a fair trial and offered Libya help in ensuring justice.
“The Libyan government has told us again today that he will receive a trial in line with international standards, and it is important that this happens,” he said in a statement.
“Britain will offer every assistance to the Libyan government and the International Criminal Court to bring him to face full accountability and justice for what he has done.”
France, which together with Britain pushed for a military intervention in Libya last March, urged fighters who captured Seif Al-Islam to hand him over to the authorities.
“Seif Al-Islam must answer for his acts and face trial,” the French foreign ministry said.
Human rights activists said a trial by the ICC would send the right message to the international community that Libya is serious about protecting rights.
“Fair prosecution at the ICC will afford Libyans a chance to see justice served in a trial that the international community stands behind,” said Richard Dicker, international justice director at Human Rights Watch.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt pressed for his removal to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which wants to try the 39-year-old on charges of crimes against humanity during the crackdown on protests.
The court’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said he would visit Libya in a week to discuss the prosecution.
But many Libyans want Seif Al-Islam tried at home, believing he knows the location of billions of dollars of public money amassed by the Qaddafi family.
Libya’s interim justice minister said the country would try him first, for crimes that carry the death penalty.
“We are ready to prosecute Seif Al-Islam,” Mohammed Al-Alagy said. “We have adopted enough legal and judicial procedures to ensure a fair trial for him.”
Alagy, who does not expect to retain his post in a new government, said he would be tried on charges of instigating others to kill, misuse of public funds and recruiting mercenaries among other crimes.
Across Libya, Said Al-Islam’s capture was celebrated. Keib, the incoming prime minister, thanked Libyans for their “struggle and historic heroism” that ousted the regime and captured Seif Al-Islam.
“It is the crowning of the sacrifices of our people,” he said.
