The Tarhuna Victims Association expressed its "surprise and shock" at the Supreme Judicial Council's request, in which it called on the Government of National Unity to inform the International Criminal Court (ICC) that the prosecution of criminal offenses in Libya is solely the responsibility of the Libyan judicial authorities.

"The Libyan judicial authority is incapable in every sense of the word to try the perpetrators of mass graves and the serious criminal offenses that occurred in Tarhuna," the association stated.

The association accuses the judicial authority of lack of seriousness. It indicated that despite those suspected of involvement are known by name and are residing in the country, no significant step was noted in this file.

The statement called on the Libyan judicial authorities to exercise their responsibility and prosecute the perpetrators involved in those incidents before demanding the ICC to suspend the investigation or prosecution of these cases.