23 sentenced to death for ISIS attack in Libya

A Libyan court sentenced 23 people to death on May 29th for their roles in a deadly ISIS attack, according to Reuters. 

In 2015, in the wake of the Nato-backed uprising in Libya, a group of individuals exploited the chaos and turmoil, committing acts in the name of ISIS. This group attacked the luxury Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli and killed nine people, as well as kidnapping, and later beheading, dozens of Egyptian Christians. The deaths of the Egyptian Christians were recorded and used in propaganda films. 

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After committing these atrocities, the group then seized the city of Sirte, where for a year they used brutality and fear to stay in power. 

Beyond the 23 people of this group sentenced to death, according to Reuters, one other person was sentenced to 12 years in prison, six to ten years, one to five years and six to three years, while five were acquitted and three others died before their trial. 14 other individuals were given life in prison under the same charges, according to Al Jazeera. 

For the family members of the victims, the trial and sentence brought about mixed emotions, as there are still many questions left unanswered for the families. Mustafa Trabesi, the father of a victim, told Al Jazeera that he felt relieved with the sentence, but he was still left with questions, saying “My son was kidnapped in Sirte by ISIL and is still missing. I don’t know what happened to him.”

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Many other alleged ISIS members still remain in jail, awaiting their trials, but for now the families of these attacks have been given some relief knowing that justice has been served.

Fatima Beitelmal, the mother of a victim, told Al Jazeera that the court’s final verdict brought her happiness.

“My dear son Mohamed, I got justice for you. I have not been able to sleep since my two sons were killed. We saw justice being served,” she said.

Reuters/Al Jazeera