Human Rights Watch on Monday urged authorities in eastern Libya to repeal a “repressive” cybercrime law it said criminalises “peaceful expression” and to release people arrested over it. The text of the law, passed last year, says it aims to defend “honour and public morals”, without defining either. It argued the law includes “vague and overbroad definitions that could invite prosecution for peaceful expression and punishment with prison terms of up to 15 years and stiff fines”. HRW said authorities in the east had arrested a well-known singer and a blogger, both women, citing the new cybercrime law. “The authorities in eastern Libya should immediately release anyone they are holding under this law for peaceful expression,” the group said.
