LIBYAN CONVERT SENTENCED TO DEATH UNDER CONTROVERSIAL APOSTASY LAW

September 15, 2022:

Libyan authorities sentenced an unidentified young man to death, according to Middle East Concern, based on a loophole in an apostasy law.
Four years ago, the Christian converted and has been arrested and detained multiple times since then. Throughout the convert’s court cases, he did not receive representation.
Once his sentence was given, he was required to post his death sentence in several public places, including newspapers, radio, and outside his home.
Militias, acting as police and authorities in a rebellious state, attempted several times to force him to recant his faith.
Because he refused to deny his Christian faith, the Libyan convert was charged with apostasy and sentenced to death by an appeals court.
Technically, Libya does not hold any national laws against apostasy. However, a 2012 to 2014 elected legislative body, the General National Congress, passed a law that in a convert from Islam refuses to recant, they are to be executed.
Domestic power struggles led to disagreements between Tripoli and Tobruk-based governments. The current Tobruk-based parliament revoked all of the General National Congress laws. However, the Tripoli Supreme Court still chooses to observe the old laws.