Mr Fathi Tarbal was released last night at around midnight when his entire family and hundreds of others began a sit in outside the headquarters of the Interior Security in Benghazi. They called for the release of the lawyers arrested that afternoon and said they would not leave until they were released.

Faced with such protests, the Interior Security released Mr Tarbal and his colleagues, but on the condition that he present himself again today to their headquarters. This measure was not ordered by a judicial authority, as indeed Mr Tarbal has was not presented before any judge since his arrest.

Alkarama was informed that today at 7:00 two further individuals were arrested for having spoken about the situation in Libya:
- Dris Al Masmari, a journalist and writer from Benghazi who spoke to Aljazeera last night (Tuesday) about the situation in Libya and the human rights violations which have been occuring. He was arrested from his home by members of the Interior Security at 7:00 this morning, Wednesday 16 February 2011.
- Mohamed Asshiem, a journalist and blogger from Benghazi who runs a number of facebook pages including the page "الشعب يريد اسقاط العقيد" (the people want the downfall of the colonel). He was also arrested from his home by Interior Security at 7:00 this morning

Alkarama calls for the immediate release of these individuals and that the Libyan authorities immediately cease persecution of human rights defenders and those who speak about the situation in Libya. We call on the authorities to refrain from acting with violence and repression against individuals who peacefully voice their opinion, especially in view of the demonstrations calling for democratic change in Libya planned for tommorrow, Thursday 17 February 2011.