Six Libyans face death penalty for converting to Christianity

Source: The Guardian

Six Libyans face death penalty for converting to Christianity

Religious laws are increasingly being used to silence civil society and human rights groups, say activists

Zeinab Mohammed Salih
Wed 3 May 2023 06.00 BST
Last modified on Wed 3 May 2023 06.48 BST

Six Libyans are facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity and proselytising under laws increasingly being used to silence civil society and human rights organisations, say activists.

The women and men – some from Libya’s minority ethnic groups, including the Amazigh, or Berbers, in the west of the country – were separately detained in March by security forces.

A US citizen was arrested by Libya’s Internal Security Agency (ISA) last month, but was released and is understood to have left the country.

The six Libyans have been charged under article 207 of the penal code, which punishes any attempt to circulate views that aim to “alter fundamental constitutional principles, or the fundamental structures of the social order”, or overthrow the state, and anyone who possess books, leaflets, drawings, slogans “or any other items” that promote their cause.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/may/03/six-libyans-face-death-penalty-for-converting-to-christianity

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