Speaking publicly for the first time since her release on Monday,
Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor denied any wrongdoing in Libya, where
authorities accused her of endangering national security while meeting
her client, Saif al-Islam.
She said, "I would like to unequivocally state
that I believe that my actions were consistent with my legal
obligations" under International Criminal Court rules,". Ms
Taylor was released by rebels in the western town of Zintan after the
Hague-based court apologised for the incident and pledged to investigate
her and three colleagues held with her. She declined to discuss the Libyan claims in detail due to the court's investigation and security concerns.
Zintan rebels who held her and the three other staff
"treated us with respect and dignity," she said, but she attacked Libya for its
treatment of the court delegation and her client. "These recent events
have completely underscored that it will be impossible for Mr Gaddafi to
be tried in an independent and impartial manner in Libyan courts," she
told reporters.
Ms Taylor said she would file a report next week
on her detention and visit with Saif al-Islam in a defence submission to
ICC judges on Libya's application to be allowed to prosecute him. The
Australian said she was allowed only one five-minute phone call with her
family during her detention. "As you can imagine, speaking to my
two-year-old daughter under such circumstances was both an emotional
lifeline and heartbreaking," she said.
Ms Taylor was appointed by
the court to represent Saif al-Islam, who is charged with crimes against
humanity for alleged involvement in attacks on civilians in the early
stages of the popular uprising against his father's four-decade rule.
Saif
al-Islim is now the focus of a judicial tug of war between the court
and Libyan authorities who want to put him on trial at home for
torturing and killing rebels as well as other crimes. The ICC is a
court of last resort - meaning it can only take on cases in countries
unwilling or unable to prosecute them. The Security Council called on
prosecutors in The Hague to launch an investigation in Libya last year
after widespread reports of atrocities committed by forces loyal to
Gaddafi.
Organisations including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty
International harshly criticised Libya's detention of the four court
staffers. www.icc-cpi.int/(International Criminal Court)
Source: Associated Press
