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Libya's new sharia law must respect human rights: EU

24 October 2011, 13:00 CET
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(BRUSSELS) - EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday said the introduction of sharia law in Libya must respect human rights.

Asked for comment from Ashton on the impact on women of polygamy and a ban on divorce, her spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said: "We expect the new Libya to be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles."

The comments followed statements from Libya's new leaders Sunday promising a system of Islamic sharia law in a constitution to be adopted after 42 years of rule under Moamer Kadhafi.

Declaring the country officially "liberated", leaders of the National Transitional Council promised new laws.

NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil said: "As an Islamic country, we adopted sharia as the principal law."

"Any law that violates sharia is null and void legally," he said.

The European Commission refused to comment however on controversy over the circumstances of Kadhafi's death.

Abdel Jalil said an investigation was being conducted into the circumstances after several foreign governments and human rights watchdogs posed questions.


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