14/02/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 14 February, MEPs Ilaria Salis (The Left, Italian) and Tineke Strik (Greens/EFA, Dutch) and 21 NGOs such as Transnational Institute and Sea-Watch called for a freeze on the funds paid by the European Union to the Libyan authorities to stem migration to the EU, following the discovery of mass graves containing the bodies of migrants in Jakharrah, in the Alkufra desert. Following the EU’s announcement of a review of financial arrangements with Tunisia, “we must do the same with Libya” and “suspend cooperation with the Libyan security forces”, said David Yambio, of the Refugees in Libya organisation, in a statement. “Italy’s recent release of internationally-wanted Libyan war criminal Osama Najim Almasri appears to be a further demonstration of the cosy relationships Italy, and European states more widely, have with human rights abusers in Libya”, denounced Ilaria Salis. (MB)