Human Rights and Freedom in Libya

https://www.humantruth.info/libya_human_rights_and_freedom.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2019

#christianity #gender #ISIS #libya #libya_gender #misogyny #women

Libya Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	166th best
Location	Africa, The Mediterranean
Population	6.7m₁
Life Expectancy	71.91yrs (2017)₂

Libya is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Libya does worse than average when it comes to combatting modern slavery₃, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₄, supporting press freedom₅, freethought₆, its average Freedom in the World rating and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₇. It sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₈ (the worst in Africa), its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₉ (one of the worst in Africa) and in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₁₀ (one of the lowest in Africa). And finally, it is the worst in supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₁₁. Freedom of speech is undermined by needlessly aggressive and restrictive laws₁₂. In 2016, slave markets in Libya had migrant men, women and children auctioned off to the highest bidders, many destined for lives of abuse₁₃. In 2017, the country is still steeped in conflict between multiple militias (including ISIS) and competing proto-governments, the fighting has "decimated the economy and public services, including the public health system, law enforcement, and the judiciary" with executions and widespread human rights abuses₁₂. Freedom of religion and freedom of belief are not protected in Libya and minorities such as Sufis and Christians are openly attacked₁₂.

1. Libya's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #libya #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Compared to Africa (2025)₁₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₄
1	Cape Verde	66.3
2	S. Africa	70.7
3	Mauritius	74.9
	...
42	Malawi	131.6
43	S. Sudan	131.7
44	Guinea	135.7
45	Libya	135.9
46	Ethiopia	136.3
47	Cameroon	139.3
48	Congo, DR	141.0
49	Angola	143.0
50	Mauritania	144.3
	Africa Avg	110.04
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₄
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₄
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
175	Palestine	132.1
176	UAE	133.5
177	Guinea	135.7
178	Libya	135.9
179	Ethiopia	136.3
180	Qatar	136.5
181	Yemen	136.9
182	Iraq	138.4
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₁₅. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₁₅.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₅, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₁₅.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Libya stated:

“Militias, armed groups and security forces continued to arbitrarily detain thousands of people. Scores of protesters, lawyers, journalists, critics and activists were rounded up and subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and forced �€�confessions�€� on camera. Militias and armed groups used unlawful force to repress peaceful protests across the country. Dozens of people were arrested, prosecuted and/or sentenced to lengthy imprisonment or death for their religious beliefs; for their actual or perceived gender identity and/or sexual orientation; or for their LGBTI activism. Authorities, militias and armed groups imposed severe restrictions on civic space and humanitarian access to affected communities, and engaged in smear campaigns against international and Libyan rights groups. Militias and armed groups killed and wounded civilians and destroyed civilian property during sporadic, localized clashes. Impunity remained widespread, and authorities funded abusive militias and armed groups. Women and girls faced entrenched discrimination and violence. Ethnic minorities and internally displaced people faced barriers in accessing education and healthcare. EU-backed Libyan coastguards and the Stability Support Authority militia intercepted thousands of refugees and migrants at sea and forcibly returned them to detention in Libya. Detained migrants and refugees were subjected to torture, unlawful killings, sexual violence and forced labour.”
"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₁₆

2. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

2.1. Press Freedom

#democracy #freedom #Freedom_of_Speech #Good_Governance #mass_media #politics #UK

Press Freedom Higher is better₅
Pos.		2025₅
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
133	Oman	42.29
134	El Salvador	41.19
135	Somalia	40.49
136	Libya	40.42
137	Guatemala	40.32
138	Sri Lanka	39.93
139	Hong Kong	39.86
140	Kazakhstan	39.34
	Africa Avg	52.30
	World Avg	54.65
q=179.

Libya is 136th in the world when it comes to supporting press freedom.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₇

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

"Armed groups intimidated, threatened, and physically attacked activists, journalists, bloggers, and media professionals"₁₂.

Averages by decade for Libya (for the ranks, lower is better):

Press Freedom	2000s Average	2010s Average
Libya:	67.66	49.86
World Rank:	164th	⇡ 156th
World Avg:	27.44	65.91

2.2. Slavery in the 2020s

#burundi #eritrea #human_rights #indonesia #libya #slavery

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₃
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
98=	Dominican Rep.	6.60
99=	Bahrain	6.70
99=	Indonesia	6.70
101=	Libya	6.80
101=	Qatar	6.80
103=	Honduras	7.00
103=	Serbia	7.00
105=	Peru	7.10
	Africa Avg	6.90
	World Avg	7.15
q=160.

Regarding combatting modern slavery, Libya comes 101st in the world.

Modern slavery includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones, and the poverty-stricken vulnerable.₁₈. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₁₉, Eritrea₁₉, Indonesia₂₀) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say in their 2023 report, that 50 million people are living in modern slavery₁₉, and, nearly two-thirds of those in forced labour are employed at the end of supply chains working for large multinationals that creating products consumed by rich countries₂₁.

For more, see:

"The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

In 2016, slave markets in Libya had migrant men, women and children auctioned off to the highest bidders₁₃, many of whom are clearly heading for a life of slavery and sexual abuse.

Averages by decade for Libya (for the ranks, lower is better):

Slavery	2010s Average	2020s Average
Libya:	7.70	6.80
World Rank:	136th	⇡ 101st
World Avg:	6.54	7.15

2.3. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom

#freedom #politics

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better₁₁
Pos.		2014 Rank₁₁
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
152	Algeria	152
153	Myanmar	153
154	Venezuela	154
155	Central African Rep.	155
156	Syria	156
157	Iran	157
158	Yemen	158
159	Libya	159
	Africa Avg	114.2
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Libya comes last in the world regarding supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms.

The Human Freedom Index published by the Fraser Institute is...

“... a broad measure of human freedom, understood as the absence of coercive constraint. It uses 79 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom in the following areas: Rule of Law, Security and Safety, Movement, Religion, Association, Assembly, and Civil Society, Expression, Relationships, Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Access to Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business. [...]
The highest levels of freedom are in Western Europe, Northern Europe, and North America (Canada and the United States. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. [...]
Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significant higher per capita income ($37,147) [compared with] the least-free quartile [at] $8,700). The HFI finds a strong correlation between human freedom and democracy.”
"The Human Freedom Index" by The Fraser Institute (2016)₂₂

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.4. Freedom in the World

#freedom #human_rights #hungary #politics #USA

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
177=	Uzbekistan	6.5
177=	UAE	6.5
177=	Congo, DR	6.5
177=	Libya	6.5
177=	Nicaragua	6.5
177=	Russia	6.5
177=	Cuba	6.5
177=	Saudi Arabia	6.5
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205.

Libya comes 20th-worst in the world when it comes to its average Freedom in the World rating.

Freedom House's long-standing annual report has been running since the 1970s, collecting data on political rights (PR) and civil liberties (CL). Their reports rate countries as "Free", "Partially Free" or "Not Free", however the results here are based on their numerical values. Many countries score the best combination of scores (1 and 1), which is why the table of results show many places equally placed in 1st place. In the past two decades, some well-established democracies like the USA and Hungary have been falling. Whilst most of the world in general is improving rights and freedoms over time, the 2020s has seen some regression.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Averages by decade for Libya (for the ranks, lower is better):

Freedom in the World	1970s Average	1980s Average	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average
Libya:	6.4	6.2	7.0	7.0	6.1
World Rank:	140th	⇡ 130th	⇣ 190th	⇣ 200th	⇡ 176th
World Avg:	4.3	4.2	3.6	3.4	3.4

2.5. Human Rights Watch Comments

#human_rights

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better₁₀
Pos.		2017 Score₁₀
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
110=	Myanmar	-9
110=	Eritrea	-9
110=	Somalia	-9
110=	Libya	-9
114=	Sudan	-10
114=	Iran	-10
114=	Burundi	-10
114=	N. Korea	-10
	Africa Avg	-5.6
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

Regarding commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, Libya is positioned 5th-worst in the world.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.6. Nominal Commitment to HR

#human_rights

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₄
Pos.		2009 Treaties₄
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
103=	Tanzania	15
103=	St Vincent & Grenadines	15
103=	Liberia	15
103=	Libya	15
103=	Maldives	15
103=	Andorra	15
103=	Cape Verde	15
103=	Bangladesh	15
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

Libya ranks 101st in the world regarding its nominal commitment to Human Rights.

There are many international agreements on human rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of human rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

For more, see:

"Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.7. HR Treaties Lag

#human_rights #international_law #micronesia #politics #small_islands

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₃
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₃
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
22	Morocco	5.44
23	Romania	5.52
24	France	5.61
25	Libya	5.61
26	Germany	5.62
27	Austria	5.68
28	Belarus	5.71
29	Canada	5.73
	Africa Avg	9.88
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Libya comes 25th in the world in terms of speed of uptake of HR treaties.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

3. Gender Equality Datasets

Libya is on the way towards ending gender inequality but women are still in an unfavourable position much of the time.

“Libyan law does not specifically criminalize domestic violence. Personal statuslaws continue to discriminate against women, particularly with respect to marriage, divorce, and inheritance. The penal code allows for a reduced sentence for a man who kills or injures his wife or another female relative because he suspects her of extramarital sexual relations. It also allows rapists to escape prosecution if they marry their victim under article 424.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₂

See:

"Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

3.1. Gender Inequality

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #women

Gender Inequality Lower is better₂₄
Pos.		2022₂₄
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
62	Cyprus	0.25
63	Oman	0.27
64	Trinidad & Tobago	0.27
65	Libya	0.27
66	Turkey	0.27
67	Tajikistan	0.28
68=	Brunei	0.28
68=	Georgia	0.28
	Africa Avg	0.53
	World Avg	0.34
q=166.

Amongst the best in Africa Libya is positioned 65th in the world when it comes to opposing gender inequality.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

On average throughout the 2010s, Libya's rate was 0.27.

3.2. Gender Biases

#gender #gender_equality #prejudice #women

Gender Biases Lower is better₈
Pos.		2022 %₈
1	Sweden	31.8₂₅
2	New Zealand	34.4₂₆
3	Australia	37.0₂₆
	...
81	Nigeria	99.5₂₆
82	Malaysia	99.5₂₆
83	Egypt	99.6₂₆
84	Indonesia	99.7₂₆
85	Libya	99.7₂₆
86	Pakistan	99.8₂₆
87	Qatar	99.8₂₅
88	Tajikistan	99.9₂₆
	Africa Avg	98.10
	World Avg	83.93
q=88.

Libya comes 4th-worst in the world in terms of the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators).

The Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) looks at gender biases across seven criteria; the % given here is for the total people who are biased across any of those criteria. By subtracting the value from 100%, you can see that those who do well on this index, you are seeing a count of those who do not appear to be biased against women in any of the criteria, and so, doing well on this index is a very positive sign for any country.

The data was included in UN (2022) with full results in Annex table AS6.7.1; their data stems for ranges between 2005 and 2022, depending on the country in question.

3.3. Year Women Can Vote

#christianity #gender_equality #human_rights #politics #women

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
144=	Equatorial Guinea	1963
144=	Bahamas	1963
146=	Sudan	1964
146=	Libya	1964
146=	Papua New Guinea	1964
149=	Lesotho	1965
149=	Botswana	1965
151=	Tuvalu	1967
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Libya comes 146th in the world regarding the year from which women could participate in democracy.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

"Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

4. Prejudice Datasets

4.1. Anti-Semite Opinions

#antisemitism #christianity #germany #indonesia #jordan #judaism #laos #morocco #netherlands #pakistan #philippines #religion #religious_violence #saudi_arabia #spain #sweden #turkey #UK #vietnam

Anti-Semite Opinions Lower is better₉
Pos.		2014 %₉
1	Laos	0
2	Philippines	3
3	Sweden	4
	...
94=	Jordan	81
94=	Bahrain	81
96	Kuwait	82
97	Tunisia	86
98=	Algeria	87
98=	Libya	87
100	Yemen	88
101	Iraq	92
	Africa Avg	45.9
	World Avg	36.8
q=101.

Libya ranks 4th-worst in the world regarding its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice.

Anti-Semitism is the word given to irrational racism against Jews. It's not the same as anti-Judaism (arguments against the religion) nor the same as anti-Zionism (arguments against Israel). In history, influential Christian theologians concocted the arguments against Jews that led, very early on, to widespread Christian action against Jews₂₇_,₂₈_,₂₉_,₃₀. As Christianity rose to power in the West and presided over the Dark Ages, there were repeated violent outbursts against Jews of the most horrible kind. Entire Crusades were aimed at them and the feared Spanish Inquisition paid Jews particular attention. The horror of the holocaust instigated by German Nazis in the 1940s was followed (finally) by the era of European human rights and a movement against racism in general.

The places that are the least anti-Semitical are a few countries of south-east Asia (Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam) and some of the secular liberal democracies of Europe (Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK). The worst countries for antisemitism are Islamic states of the Middle East₃₁, which are undergoing their own Dark Age. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey see the most oppressive and violent actions towards Jews₃₂_,₃₃. Jews in Muslim countries face a host of restrictions and "ceaseless humiliation and regular pogroms"₃₄. In 2004 the European Union Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia reported on violent anti-Jew crimes in the EU and found that that largest group of perpetrators were young Muslim males₃₅.

For more, see:

"Anti-Semitism" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. LGBT Equality in the 2020s

#equality #homosexuality #human_rights #ICCPR #intolerance #libya #sexuality #tolerance

Homosexuality is illegal in Libya and can result in a 5-year prison sentence, because same-sex marriage is not possible, and extra-marital sex is illegal₁₂.

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₇
Pos.		Total Score₇
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
177	Morocco	-5.02
178	Ethiopia	-5.04
179=	Malaysia	-5.07
179=	Libya	-5.07
181	Syria	-5.08
182=	Togo	-5.10
182=	Egypt	-5.10
182=	Senegal	-5.10
	Africa Avg	-3.78
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215.

Libya ranks 179th in the world in terms of LGBT equality in the 2020s.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₆. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right and protected by privacy laws₃₇. Despite this, it is illegal to be homosexual in over 60 countries (as of 2025)₃₈. The Vexen LGBT Equality Index as part of the Social and Moral Development Index grants points to each country depending on its LGBT stance since the 1970s₃₉_,₄₀. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region, but in the Middle East and Africa cultural prejudice goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

" LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Penal code criminalizes same-sex acts; imprisonment terms

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Libya had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination, and supportive NGOs are banned. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

⇣ Opposed a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and opposed it again in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
⇣ Opposed the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.
⇣ Opposed the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights tabled by Argentina.

Averages by decade for Libya (for the ranks, lower is better):

LGBT Equality	1970s Average	1980s Average	1990s Average	2000s Average	2010s Average	2020s Average
Libya:	-5.00	-5.00	-5.00	-9.00	-5.10	-5.07
World Rank:	136th	⇣ 138th	⇣ 148th	⇣ 187th	⇡ 172nd	⇣ 179th
World Avg:	-2.98	-2.87	-2.60	-2.15	-1.10	-1.21

4.3. Freedom of Thought

#europe #freedom_of_belief #freethought #human_rights #netherlands #religion #religious_tolerance #secularism #the_enlightenment

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₆
Pos.		2021₆
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
166=	Congo, DR	4.0
166=	Lebanon	4.0
166=	Cuba	4.0
166=	Libya	4.0
170=	Nigeria	4.3
170=	Iraq	4.3
170=	Comoros	4.3
173=	Kuwait	4.5
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Libya is 161st in the world in terms of freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₄₁. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₄₂. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₄₃ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₄₄. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₄₅. The best countries at doing so are Belgium, The Netherlands and Taiwan₆_,₄₆ and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia₆_,₄₇.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₈. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₄₂, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₉ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₅₀ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

"Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).

5. Freedom of Belief and Religion

#christianity #ISIS #libya #religion_in_libya

Freedom of religion and freedom of belief are not protected in Libya; in addition the current conflict from 2011 has allowed "militias and forces affiliated with several interim authorities, as well as ISIS fighters [to attack] religious minorities, including Sufis and Christians, and [destroy] religious sites in Libya with impunity"₁₂.

“Since 2011, militias and forces affiliated with several interim authorities, as well as ISIS fighters, have attacked religious minorities, including Sufis and Christians, and destroyed religious sites in Libya with impunity.
In July 2017, the Supreme Fatwa Committee under the General Authority for Endowments and Islamic Affairs, the religious authority of the Interim Government, issued a religious edict calling the minority Ibadi sect of Islam “a misguided and aberrant group,” and “infidels without dignity.” The Ibadi faith is practiced by many Amazighs, mostly in western Libya. Amazighs number between 300,000 and 400,000 of Libya´s total population of 6.5 million. The GNA responded by condemning the religious edict.
In August, unidentified armed groups in Benghazi reportedly kidnapped or arrested 21 Sufi adherents, a minority Muslim group, at different times and different locations. As of September, none of the 21 had been released.”
"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₂