The 95 Libyan nationals who were arrested at an illegal military training camp in Mpumalanga have refused to be taken back to Barberton Prison, where they've been detained pending bail, because they are not being given halaal food and their religion is being disregarded. The suspects, who are facing charges of contravening the Immigration Act, were arrested a week ago and made their second appearance at the White River Magistrate's Court today.

UNFAIR TREATMENT 

The defence attorney of the 95 accused, who was only introduced in court as Kassen, said his clients are complaining of unfair treatment from the Correctional Services officials. "As they are Muslim people from Libya, they have certain requirements that you and I don't," said Kassen in court. After court proceedings, some of the accused refused to go inside the police vans, demanding that they be sent back home. Some were showing peace signs while inside the vans and spoke in Arabic.

TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT PRISON

The court ordered that the accused be transferred to the Mbombela Correctional Facility, which is 45 minutes away from Barberton, until their next appearance. Their case has been postponed to 26 August. The Home Affairs department confirmed that those arrested were in possession of fraudulent visas and had entered South Africa through Tunisia. They explained that their visa cancellations meant that all those arrested Libyans are now undocumented foreign nationals. "Home Affairs has already cancelled the irregularly acquired visas and is working with other law enforcement authorities to look at all options, including deportation," said department spokesperson Siya Qoza, who added that preliminary investigations revealed that all 95 suspects misrepresented themselves on their visa applications, claiming to be coming to the country for training to be security guards.