CPJ urges 'thorough, credible' probe into Libyan journalist's death

June 15, 2005
His Excellency Muammar al-Qaddafy

c/o The Libyan Liaison Office

2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705

Washington, D.C., 20037
Via facsimile: 202-944-9060

Your Excellency:

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent organization of
journalists dedicated to defending press freedom around the world, is
writing to express its shock and grave concern about the apparent murder of
Libyan journalist Dayf al-Ghazal al-Shuhaibi, a former journalist for the
government-owned daily Azahf al-Akhdar and contributor to the London-based
Web sites Libya Alyoum and Libya Jeel.

Al-Ghazal's body was found in Benghazi, his hometown, on or about June 2
after he went missing from his home on May 21, according to several sources.
Justice Minister Ali Hasnaoui said al-Ghazal was shot in the head and the
death was being investigated as a murder, according to international press
reports.

Al-Ghazal, who worked for government media for several years and was a
member of the governing Revolutionary Committees, had recently been critical
of government officials and the official media in articles for the
London-based Web sites. Al-Ghazal wrote an open letter in February,
announcing his intention never to write for official media again and saying
he was "protesting the attacks … journalists have faced while trying to
reveal the truth." Al-Ghazal publicly criticized Libyan officials in his
other articles on Libya Alyoum and Libya Jeel, accusing them of corruption
and "stealing the public's money."

A source close to al-Ghazal told CPJ that the journalist was briefly
detained and questioned about his writings for the London-based Web sites by
Libyan security agents in April.

In recent years, Libya has taken some steps toward improving its human
rights record: releasing political prisoners, undertaking some judicial and
legal reforms, and allowing international human rights monitors to visit the
country. The failure to properly investigate al-Gahzal's alarming death
would undermine those efforts and signify a significant step backwards for
human rights in Libya.

CPJ calls on you to ensure that a credible and transparent inquiry into
al-Ghazal's death is conducted and that authorities make public the
circumstances behind the killing and those potentially involved. Those
responsible for wrongdoing must be brought to justice.

Thank you for your attention to this most urgent matter. We look forward to
your reply.

Sincerely,

Ann Cooper
Executive Director

CC:
American Society of Newspaper Editors
Amnesty International
Article 19 (United Kingdom)
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Fred Eckhard, Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Freedom Forum
Freedom House
Human Rights Watch
Index on Censorship
International Center for Journalists
International Federation of Journalists
International PEN
International Press Institute
Louise Arbour, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
Michael G. Kozak, United States Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human
Rights, and Labor
The Newspaper Guild
The North American Broadcasters Association
Overseas Press Club
Reporters Sans Frontières
The Society of Professional Journalists
World Association of Newspapers
World Press Freedom Committee

*************************
Hani Sabra
Researcher
Middle East and North Africa

Committee to Protect Journalists
330 Seventh Avenue
12th Floor
New York, NY 10001

Tel: (212) 465-1004, x-104
Fax: (212) 465-9568
Web: www.cpj.org