Separating Fact from Fiction: Melinda Taylor and the ICC Staff’s Detention in Libya
by Mark Kersten on 05 Jul 2012 | Comments
In times of crisis or scandal, misunderstandings are an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of not having sufficient information and only getting it in fits and spurts from political actors with competing interests. The continuing controversy surrounding the detention of ICC staff has been no exception. Since their visit to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in early June, Melinda Taylor, Helene Assaf, Alexander Khodakov, and Esteban Peralta Losilla have been held by a militia from Zintan, Libya, for the most part incommunicado. Libyan and Zintani authorities alleged that they were spying and posed a threat to the country’s national security (for more see here and here).
Admittedly, I was amongst those who believed that after the story broke, it would slowly decline in coverage and be largely ignored by the media. However – and luckily – that has not been the case. Nevertheless, the relatively consistent coverage has not prevented fictions from sprouting and falsehoods from propagating. For this reason, I thought it might be useful to “clear the air” by doing a little exercise in separating fact from fiction.
For the 8 points in this story, follow the link.
Source: Justice in Conflict
(Photo: Reuters)