Libya apologises for detaining UN officer on suspicion of black magic

[muriel_volestrangler]

The United Nations says Libya has apologised for the detention of one of its officers on suspicion of "black magic".

Guards at a Tripoli prison arrested Ahmed Ghanem, an official observing the trial of two sons of Muammar Gaddafi, earlier this month, saying they suspected him of having written materials containing spells or enchantments.

The UN stability mission in Libya (Unsmil) said it has had an apology and assurances from the government that it respects an agreement giving UN staff immunity from arrest.

"Unsmil was dismayed by the detention of Mr Ghanem for an hour and a half as well as what followed in terms of defamation and false accusations through some social media pages," said a UN statement. "The mission affirms that it scrupulously respects the Libyan authorities' legal, security and administrative procedures when its representatives attend trials."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/29/libya-apologises-united-nations-officer-suspicion-black-magic-gaddafi-trial

They could get rid of the dumb law that talks about "written materials containing spells or enchantments", for that matter. Or they could condemn their country to permanent backwardness. It's up to them ...

[hobbit709]

1. What did he do, have a Harry Potter book on him.

If magic and such really worked, there would be more evidence of it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Maybe he was writing shorthand

Or they don't hold with no book-larnin'.