LIBIYA. - The Libyan Supreme Court overturned Law 37, which stated that praising the former head of state Muammar Gaddafi, his regime or even ideologies was a punishable crime. The court ruling declared the law unconstitutional.
According to the Associated Foreign Press had the law been upheld, a person found guilty of this "crime" could have been sentenced from three to 15 years in prison as per the country's penal code.
The law was initiated in May by the National Transitional Committee in order to preserve the support for the Feb. 17 revolution.
Judge Kamal Bashir Dahan said of the ruling Thursday, "In the name of the people, the court has decided to accept the appeal of Law 37 of 2012 as it is unconstitutional...The ruling of this court on rendering the law 37 constitutionally invalid does not render invalid other criminal articles stipulated in other laws incriminating those who undermine the religion and defame the public institutions," as reported by Reuters.
Salah Al-Merghani, the attorney who appealed the law, expressed pleasure with the court's decision since the law "prevents the freedom of speech," he also said, " we are nearing elections and a basic step is to ensure there is freedom of speech," as reported by Reuters.
In Feb. 2011, Libya's ruling government under the leadership of Colonel Mummar Gaddafi was uprooted by revolutionaries. Gaddafi had ruled the country for over 42 years. Currently, the National Transitional Council is serving as the interim government. Elections are scheduled to take place in a few weeks.
