Demands for Immediate Investigation into Mass Graves in Tarhuna, Libya

A mass grave in Tarhuna. (General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons)
A mass grave in Tarhuna. (General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons)
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Demands for Immediate Investigation into Mass Graves in Tarhuna, Libya

A mass grave in Tarhuna. (General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons)
A mass grave in Tarhuna. (General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons)

Libya's General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons announced the discovery of a new mass grave in the southwestern city of Tarhuna.

The Authority recovered an unidentified body from one of the graves found in the agricultural project in Tarhuna.

Political and human rights activists called for an immediate investigation into the discovery, demanding holding those responsible accountable.

The Authority added that it would continue to examine all the reports it received about the missing persons during the past months, pointing out that it had previously taken 1,349 DNA samples from their families.

Tarhuna MP Abu Bakr Said said that in light of this tragic situation and the daily discovery of mass graves, "the Presidential Council and the Government should declare a state of emergency in Tarhuna."

He urged authorities to apprehend the "perpetrators of these heinous crimes."

The head of the Authority, Kamal al-Siwi, accompanied by some officials from the body, visited the city of Zintan last week to discuss the issue of the missing persons, clarify the mechanism of the commission's work, and facilitate the procedures for the families.

Libyan human rights groups have called on the UN to urge all Libyan parties to expedite the investigation into the discovery of mass graves in Tarhuna.

The United Nations Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) urged the "rapid and transparent" investigation into the extrajudicial killings.



Syrian Police Impose Curfew in Homs after Unrest

Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Syrian Police Impose Curfew in Homs after Unrest

Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Syrian children play on a damaged tank in Homs, on December 20, 2024. (AFP)

Syrian police have imposed an overnight curfew in the city of Homs, state media reported, after unrest there linked to demonstrations that residents said were led by members of the minority Alawite and Shiite communities.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the demands of the demonstrators nor the degree of disturbance that took place.

Some residents said the demonstrations were linked to pressure and violence in recent days aimed at members of the Alawite minority, a sect long seen as loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled by opposition fighters on Dec. 8.

Spokespeople for Syria’s new ruling administration led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the curfew.

State media said the curfew was being imposed for one night, from 6pm (1500 GMT) local time until 8am on Thursday morning.

The country's new leaders have repeatedly vowed to protect minority religious groups.

Small demonstrations also took place in other areas on or near Syria’s coast, where most of the country’s Alawite minority live, including in the city of Tartous.

The demonstrations took place around the time an undated video was circulated on social networks showing a fire inside an Alawite shrine in the city of Aleppo, with armed men walking around inside and posing near human bodies.

The interior ministry said on its official Telegram account that the video dated back to the opposition offensive on Aleppo in late November and the violence was carried out by unknown groups, adding that whoever was circulating the video now appeared to be seeking to incite sectarian strife.

The ministry also said that some members of the former regime had attacked interior ministry forces in Syria’s coastal area on Wednesday, leaving a number of dead and wounded.