Libya: UN mission condemns assassination of former parliament member
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 18 July 2014 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Libya: UN mission condemns assassination of former parliament member, 18 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53ce609a6.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) today strongly condemned the assassination of former member of the General National Congress Fariha Barkawi.
Ms. Barkawi was shot by gunmen yesterday in Derna, in eastern Libya, where the violence has escalated in recent days. She is the second prominent woman to be assassinated in Libya in less than a month.
On 25 June 2014, prominent rights and political activist Salwa Bugaighis was shot dead in her Benghazi residence after casting her vote in the country's parliamentary elections.
"UNSMIL is particularly disturbed by the deliberate targeting by assassination of women activists," it said in a statement issued in Tripoli.
The Mission deplored the escalating violence in Benghazi and Tripoli, which it said was causing casualties among civilians and driving families out of their homes. It called on all sides for a cessation of hostilities.
"The United Nations reiterates its call upon all sides to refrain from all kinds of violence and demands that measures be taken to ensure the protection of all civilians during this current armed conflict."
The recent turmoil has reportedly been some of the worst fighting since the 2011 uprising that ousted former leader Muammar al-Qadhafi and the North African nation embarked on its democratic transition.
