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Libya: Whether persons who have not performed their military service require permission from the military in order to travel abroad and, if so, under what circumstances permission would be given

Country Reports 1997 states that all citizens of Libya must "obtain exit permits for travel abroad" and that women must also have permission from their husbands (1998, 1527). A Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio, who is in regular contact with Libyan nationals and who has written a book entitled Libya's Qaddafi: The Politics of Contradiction, agreed that all citizens require permission from the state in order to leave the country (19 & 23 Nov. 1998). In order to gain permission, the citizen must first approach the authorities in the region where he/she is living. If a citizen is working, permission must first be sought from the employer or, if studying, from the school where the citizen is registered. If permission is granted at this level then the citizen takes the letter of permission to the military in Tripoli where it is reviewed in conjunction with information on the citizen available to the military. If military service has not yet been served, permission is generally not granted, unless the citizen is a student intending to study abroad, has "connections", or  has "legitimate" reasons - such as being a government employee - to travel before performing military service. According to the professor, even permission for government employees "depends on who you know." Once a request is reviewed by the military, the professor said it is then forwarded to the intelligence agency, where it is again examined with reference to information available to the intelligence agency. The request is then sent back to the military for a final decision.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.

University of Texas at San Antonio. 19 and 23 November 1998. Telephone interview with a Professor of Political Science.

Additional Sources Consulted

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD.

Seven non-documentary sources contacted did not provide information on the requested subject.

Topics: Right to leave, Freedom of movement, Military service,