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Officials Release Two Of Five Detained After The Libya Comic Con

Published Fri, 24 Nov 2017 08:31:17 -0600

A few weeks ago, Bleeding Cool told you about organisers of the Libya Comic Con who had been seized by members of an armed militia, RADA Special Deterrence Forces, who work for one of the rival Libyan government bodies, over issues regarding cosplay, artwork and publisher displays. This was despite the event having been approved of by the militia from a rival government body, previously.

The organisers were ostensibly accused of a number of crimes against public morals and Islam. These included agnosticism, atheism, holding masonic ideas, believing in Halloween, distorting the minds of youth, and kufer(abandoning Islam).

They were also accused of inciting violence through some artwork which depicted knives and violent scenes. Some art work was confiscated as evidence.

Now, the Libya Herald has stated that two of the five were taken have now been released without charge. Others, who had been initially arrested as well, were released after being beaten, their heads shaved and being given religious lectures.

There are three organisers being held, while a sixth who was away from the show during the assault, is in hiding,

The United Nations is calling for the immediate release of all those detained in this incident on freedom of speech grounds. In a neighbouring country, the Saudi Comic Con is taking place this weekend in Riyadh without any issues so far.