Jews, formerly resident in Libya, have been the chief victims of a law under which the Libyan government has confiscated all moveable and immoveable property and assets of foreign nationals, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was told today. The matter of confiscations was discussed today in the House of Lords. Lord Janner told the JTA that the confiscations were carried out under the provisions of Law 57 of 1970.
He said that of 643 victims, 628 were Jews. Lord Janner asked the government how many British subjects were involved. Lady Tweedsmuir, the Minister of State at the Foreign Office, said that eight British subjects had been dispossessed by Libyan authorities since the 1968 revolution that overthrew President Idria. She said that representations for compensation so far have had no results. Lord Janner said that 700 persons had suffered confiscation. He said he was not referring only to British subjects but to human beings whose rights should be defended.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.