Fathi Terbil
Encyclopedia
Fathi Terbil, also romanized as Fatih Turbel, is a Libyan lawyer and human rights
activist and member of the National Transitional Council
representing Libyan youth. He represents the relatives of over 1000 prisoners allegedly killed by Libyan security forces in Abu Salim Prison
in 1996. He is also the Youth and Sports Minister for the Interim Government.
Fathi Terbil's arrest in February 2011 sparked a demonstration in Benghazi
on 15 February by around 200 relatives of the deceased prisoners, which began the 2011 Libyan civil war
. He was subsequently said to have been freed. On 20 February, Terbil told Al Jazeera
that security forces - sometimes firing from civilian cars without license plates - had killed dozens, perhaps hundreds, of protestors in Benghazi.
On May 30, 2011, he was awarded the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize
("The award given by lawyers to a lawyer"), given each year to a lawyer who thoroughout his or her career has illustrated, by activity or suffering, the defence of human rights in the world.
He was appointed to the Libyan National Transitional Council
representing youth after being one of the first arrested in street protests during the 2011 Libyan civil war
on 15 February 2011 and later freed.
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activist and member of the National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
representing Libyan youth. He represents the relatives of over 1000 prisoners allegedly killed by Libyan security forces in Abu Salim Prison
Abu Salim prison
Abu Salim prison is a top security prison in Tripoli, Libya which was often described as notorious for mistreatment and human rights abuses by human rights activists and other observers before the overthrow of the government of 40 years standing in 2011....
in 1996. He is also the Youth and Sports Minister for the Interim Government.
Fathi Terbil's arrest in February 2011 sparked a demonstration in Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
on 15 February by around 200 relatives of the deceased prisoners, which began the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. He was subsequently said to have been freed. On 20 February, Terbil told Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
that security forces - sometimes firing from civilian cars without license plates - had killed dozens, perhaps hundreds, of protestors in Benghazi.
On May 30, 2011, he was awarded the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize
Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize
The Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize, or Ludovic-Trarieux Award, is an international human rights award given annually to a lawyer for contributions to the defence of human rights.-History:...
("The award given by lawyers to a lawyer"), given each year to a lawyer who thoroughout his or her career has illustrated, by activity or suffering, the defence of human rights in the world.
He was appointed to the Libyan National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
representing youth after being one of the first arrested in street protests during the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
on 15 February 2011 and later freed.