Libya rape victims 'brainwashed'

TRIPOLI - Libyan women and girls including rape victims are being placed in "social rehabilitation" centres which are being used as an ideological brainwashing tool by the authorities, Human Rights Watch claims.

A team from the organisation was granted access to two of the centres, and releases its report today.

Portrayed as protective homes for women and girls "vulnerable to engaging in moral misconduct", Human Rights Watch says the facilities house rape victims who have been ostracised for "staining their families' honour".

Women and girls who have no male guardian have also been placed in the centres. They say they are treated like criminals.

Farida Deif, the Human Rights Watch researcher who visited the centres, said that "these facilities are far more punitive than protective".

The Libyan Government said that the group was ignoring Islamic values governing Libyan society, particularly the protection of women who might face "honour" killings.

- INDEPENDENT