Tunisia on Sunday extradited Moamer Kadhafi’s former prime minister to Libya, the government announced, despite protests from his lawyers and rights groups that he faces execution.
Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, who fled to neighbouring Tunisia last September shortly after rebel fighters took the capital Tripoli, “was extradited this morning,” a spokesman for Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali told AFP.
The extradition sparked a row between the Tunisian prime minister and President Moncef Marzouki, who had said he opposed sending Mahmoudi back to Libya “on principle” and had demanded guarantees he would receive a fair trial.
Lawyers and rights groups have long argued that Mahmoudi, who was Kadhafi’s premier from 2006 until the final days of his regime, will be executed if he returns to Libya, where a February 2011 uprising ended more than four decades of the dictator’s rule.
But Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib guaranteed his rights would be protected.
“The Libyan government reiterates that the accused will receive good treatment in accordance with the teachings of our righteous religion and according to international standards of human rights,” he said.
He also expressed Libya’s “profound thanks and appreciation to the brotherly nation of Tunisia, as a president, government and people, for its historic stance with the Libyan people and its principled attitude in handing over those wanted by justice.”
Kib said Mahmoudi, 67, was being held in a prison under the supervision of the ministry of justice and the judiciary police.
The decision to send him home put the Tunisian president and premier at odds with each other.
“President Moncef Marzouki did not sign any decree. This decision will have repercussions for the relationship between the presidency and the government,” presidential advisor Adnen Manser told AFP, warning of a “serious crisis”.
Marzouki was in southern Tunisia Sunday for commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the national army.