Libya: Gaddafi investigated over use of rape as weapon

BBC News, 8 June 2011

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The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says there is evidence that Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi ordered the rape of hundreds of women as a weapon against rebel forces.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo believes
Col Gaddafi hoped rapes would
instil fear and dissuade dissent

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said rape was a new aspect of Colonel Gaddafi's repression.

He said he was also looking at possible evidence that pro-Gaddafi security forces had been given medication such as Viagra to enhance their sex drive.

There has so far been no comment on the allegations by the Libyan authorities.

Last month, Mr Moreno-Ocampo asked ICC judges to approve arrest warrants for Col Gaddafi, his Saif al-Islam, and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi.

He accused them of committing two categories of crimes against humanity - murder and persecution - and said they bore the greatest responsibility for attacks on civilians at the beginning of the anti-government uprising in February, when between 500 and 700 are thought to have been killed.

The Libyan government dismissed those allegations.

It does not recognise the ICC jurisdiction.

'New aspect of repression'

On Wednesday, Mr Moreno-Ocampo said that if the arrest warrants were issued, he might add the charge of rape to the case.

He told reporters at the UN in New York that he had collected evidence suggesting the Libyan leader had decided to punish women by using rape as a weapon in the hope that it would instil fear and curb dissent.

"It was never the pattern he used to control the population. The rape is a new aspect of the repression. And that's why we had doubts at the beginning but now we are more convinced," he said.

"Apparently, he decided to punish, using rape."

He said it was difficult to know how widespread the use of rape was.

"In some areas we had a number of 100 people raped. The issue for us was, can we attribute these rapes to Gaddafi himself, or is it something that happened in the barracks," he explained.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo also said some witnesses had confirmed that the Libyan government was buying containers of Viagra-type drugs to carry out the policy, and to "enhance the possibility to rape".

"We are trying to see who was involved," he added.

Related Article:

Gaddafi soldiers given 'Viagra' to rape innocent women civilians, says UN