MP demands refugee status for Libyan opposition figure

Labour MP Anglu Farrugia yesterday urged the Maltese authorities to grant refugee status to Libyan national Taddel Guma Al Madrous, a member of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya.

Dr Farrugia said that Mr Al Madrous, who is in Malta, risked execution or a long prison sentence should he return to Libya. He had requested refugee status, but although he had a clear-cut case, such status had not been granted to him yet.

The Labour MP, who was speaking on the adjournment in parliament, said Dr Mohammed El Megaljef a former Libyan ambassador to India and auditor-general, now residing in the US, had sent him documented evidence to show the identity and activities of Mr Al Madrous.

Mr El Megaljef had resigned from the Libyan governemnt and set up the National Front for the Salvation of Libya, an underground opposition movement.

Mr Al Madrous, a supporter of the front, was imprisoned between 1994 and 1996 and between 1999-2000. Many of those who worked with him were condemned to death.

Dr Farrugia said he was not discussing how Libya went about its ways. That was up to the Libyan people. His interest was only that Mr Al Madrous should be granted refugee status because he risked being executed or imprisoned if he returned to Libya, since he was a member of an underground political movement.

He was making his remarks so as not to have a repetition of what happened to the Erithrean refugees who were deported from Malta, Dr Farrugia said.