Tunisians jailed in Libya over illegal emigration released

TUNIS - 13 August 2017: Some 78 Tunisians jailed in Libya over attempted illegal immigration from the coast of the Libyan city of Zawyia were released by the Libyan authorities Friday, TAP reported on Saturday.

According to a statement released Saturday by the Foreign Affairs Department (MAE), the release of the Tunisians comes after a series of contacts with the Libyan authorities, the Libyan prosecutor's office and the Libyan Consulate General in Tunis.

"The Tunisians released arrived Friday night at 22:00 at the border crossing of Ras Jedir," the statement reads.

"Such cases can be settled only through official channels," said the Foreign Affairs Department, noting that contacts are ongoing with the Libyan authorities on the situation of Tunisians in Libya, especially those who are in Libyan prisons for various reasons.

Sentenced for a period of one week to four months, the released Tunisians come from the governorates of Medenine, Gabes, Tataouine, Kairouan and Tunis.

Most of them have been jailed up for attempted illegal emigration from the Libyan side, while the rest was imprisoned for different reasons.