THE HAGUE, Netherlands – One of Moammar Gadhafi’s daughters asked Tuesday to intervene in proceedings against her brother at the International Criminal Court, saying she wants to protect his interests.
The court has charged Seif al-Islam Gadhafi with crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in the brutal crackdown early last year on anti-government protesters who eventually toppled his father’s 42-year-old dictatorship.
But the court has still not got custody of Seif and appears unlikely to any time soon.
He was arrested in November by rebel fighters in Libya’s remote southern desert and has been held largely without access to the outside world ever since.
Libya’s new rulers say they want to put him on trial, but they must first convince judges in The Hague he will get a fair trial on the same charges as those in the ICC case.
Aisha Gadhafi filed a request through her lawyer Nick Kaufman to act as a “friend of the court” to provide “concrete information” she said could help judges decide their next step.
The information will “assist the Pretrial Chamber in determining whether the Libyan authorities truly desire to provide Seif al-Islam Gadhafi with effective legal representation or to afford him a fair trial,” the written request said.
Gadhafi said she wants to give judges details of attempts she has made to contact Seif and of two phone calls with Libya’s deputy prosecutor.
“From these telephone conversations, it may be inferred that the Libyan authorities who purport to be investigating and prosecuting Seif al-Islam Gadhafi refuse to deal with international legal counsel,” the request said.
The ICC has asked Libya for access to Seif and about his conditions of detention. Libyan authorities filed a confidential written response Jan. 23.
Seif was indicted along with his father and the Gadhafi regime’s intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi. The case against Moammar Gadhafi was closed after he was captured and killed. Al-Senoussi’s whereabouts are unknown.
