Brussels, 26062014 (Agence Europe) - On 26 June, the European Union said it was “deeply shocked” at the murder on 25 June of a Libyan lawyer and human rights activist, Salwa Bugaighis, in her home in Benghazi. The EU's diplomatic corps said the EU condemned this hateful act and the continuing murders of human rights activists in Libya.
The foreign affairs spokeswoman for the S&D Group at the European Parliament, MEP Ana Gomes, condemned the assassination and paid tribute to Bugaighis, saying she had not only been a courageous fighter in the struggle for human rights and democracy, but was also a symbol of the tragic decline of the Libyan revolution that is jeopardising the transition to democracy and peace. Gomes said this was an enormous loss for the Libyan people, particularly for Libyan women, because Salwa Bugaighis was targeted because she was an indefatigable defender of women's rights.
Unknown men in military uniform and balaclavas are reported to have broken in to Bugaighis' home and shot her on election day. The general election attracted only a low turnout. (CG)