Tripoli: The Supreme Judicial Council has firmly denied the existence of a mediation committee intended to resolve the ongoing judicial crisis in Libya, contradicting claims made in a statement by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.

According to Libyan News Agency, the Council emphasized that the UN mission's statement contained inaccuracies, particularly regarding the formation and existence of a mediation committee. The Council clarified that the only recognized committee was assembled to avert a Supreme Court (Court of Cassation) ruling that deemed the Supreme Judicial Council Law unconstitutional. It pointed out that a ruling had already been made, and that this committee, formed by mutual agreement and representing only one faction, involved other parties not represented by the Council.

The Council's statement further highlighted that the committee in question did not meet in Benghazi, as suggested, but rather convened in Tripoli without invitations extended to legal experts or judges from eastern Libya.

Criticism was also directed at the procedure for forming the committee mentioned by the UN mission. The Council stated that the committee "was not formed from recognized bodies within the country" and that the mission did not inform the Council of its creation. It argued that the approach to resolving the crisis is based on a misunderstanding, suggesting that the issue lies in the structure of the judicial system rather than the law governing it, necessitating a comprehensive reform of the judiciary's institutional framework.

The Council disputed the UN mission's assertion that the committee's proposals benefit the public interest, highlighting that the committee did not engage with either disputing party-the Supreme Judicial Council and the Supreme Court-nor did it review pertinent rulings by the Supreme Constitutional Court.

In its statement, the Supreme Judicial Council questioned the parties contacted by the alleged committee and the individuals responsible for drafting the proposals referenced by the UN mission.

The Council called for a meeting involving both the Supreme Judicial Council and the Supreme Court, stressing its authority to propose legal amendments to the judicial system, as granted by Article 5 of Judicial Law No. 6 of 2006 and its amendments.