European authorities should not be sending migrants trying to reach the continent back to Libya until the security situation there has stabilised, the chief of Human Rights Watch said. While acknowledging Europe’s right to restrict immigration after hundreds of thousands have poured into member states in recent years, Roth criticised a Brussels-backed deal that helps Libya block migrants from trying to reach Europe. “The International Organization for Migration has said that more migrants are dying inside Libya than die once they get in a boat to cross the Mediterranean. Shocking images last year of black Africans being sold in Libya have led European officials to stop returning migrants to the country, Roth said. “Where commercial opportunities are at stake or where fighting terrorism is at issue, he’s been much more reluctant to push a pro-human rights agenda,” Roth claimed.

Source: Punch January 18, 2018 09:11 UTC