Libya’s House of Representatives has passed controversial amendments to the country’s general amnesty law, broadening its scope to cover crimes committed before the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.
However, the revised legislation explicitly excludes those accused of suppressing the February 17th revolution that toppled Gaddafi, barring them from holding official positions or running in future elections.
Chief among those disqualified is Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the former dictator’s son and one-time heir apparent, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for charges of crimes against humanity during the 2011 crackdown on anti-regime protests.
The move appears aimed at preventing influential Gaddafi-era figures from returning to power through democratic means and undermining the transition since the overthrow of the long-ruling autocrat.