Qatari authorities have forced Libyan rape victim Eman al-Obeidy and her family to return to Libya. Said al-Obeidy, officials beat and handcuffed her, and forced her onto a plane that dropped her in Benghazi. According to al-Obeidy, officials in the Transitional National Council pressured the Qataris to expel her. Al-Obeidy’s deportation occurred despite opposition from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. “Forcibly returning a refugee who survived gang rape not only violates international law, but is cruel and could trigger further trauma,” said Bill Frelick, refugee program director at Human Rights Watch. “All eyes are now on the authorities in eastern Libya, who should allow al-Obeidy to leave the country.” While her deportation to Benghazi puts her in friendly, rebel territory, it does put her in the middle of heavy fighting. State Department spokesman Mark Toner says they’re “very concerned” about al-Obeidy’s safety and are working to find her asylum in a third country.
Alleged Libyan rape victim deported from Qatar back to Libya [CNN]
