A/HRC/17/44 across Libya, in an organized fashion, utilizing various brigades and other security forces. Interviewees reported that the authorities‟ repression of demonstrations was followed by reprisals against individuals having organized or participated in demonstrations. Numerous reports were received of persons being taken to “informal” places of detention. Following their release, a number of persons gave information concerning their being held along with others in such unofficial places of detention maintained by Government forces. 97. When persons were detained, they were not informed of the basis for the deprivation of liberty. Many persons arrested, in the aftermath of the demonstrations, have not been brought before a competent, independent and impartial court or other authority to have the lawfulness of their detention reviewed. Instead, they have been held beyond the reach of the law, without the possibility of recourse to legal procedures. Consistent testimonies received by the Commission indicate that Government forces stopped civilians at checkpoints or in the streets, regularly verified identity cards of travellers, arrested and detained persons according to their place of origin or residence, each being used as proxies to indicate that persons were supporters of the opposition. While some were released after being questioned, others were taken by authorities and are suspected to be held in detention facilities or prisons in Tripoli, or transferred to Ianzana, Al-Jdaydah and Abu Salim detention facilities. Two persons from Nalut, for instance, stated to the Commission that: they had been arrested by Government forces and later transferred to an unknown military location. They were detained alongside other persons, some of whom are still missing. 98. The Commission received information about a large number persons missing or disappeared, both during the demonstrations and during the armed conflict. Reports were forthcoming from several cities in the east including Ajdabiya, Al-Bayda, Darnah, Misrata, Ras Lanuf, Sirte and Tobruk, as well as cities in the west including in Tripoli Az-Zawiyah, Zuwarah and the Nafusa Mountains. Interviewees noted that hundreds of persons disappeared in the first days of demonstrations, as well as after the conflict started. Witnesses told the Commission that some Government forces specifically communicated threats that abductions would continue unless their community aligned with the Qadhafi regime. Interviewees stated that the majority of persons who disappeared during the conflict were civilians who had been travelling within the country or had encountered checkpoints run by Government forces. Some were simply walking in the streets or buying groceries when they were last seen. 99. It is difficult to ascertain the exact number of disappearances. The Commission received a list of 10 names of persons reported to have disappeared during the second half of February in Tobruk, and of 110 disappeared persons who disappeared from the Nafusa Mountain area. The Fondation Alkarama submitted to the Commission a list of 740 names of persons who had been reportedly arrested, detained or abducted by Government forces and were believed to have been disappeared. Human Rights Watch documented 72 possible disappearance cases based on interviews with family members or witnesses to the arrest of missing persons. According to Human Rights Watch, the Libyan Red Crescent Society in Benghazi has recorded 370 missing person cases from Benghazi and Al-Bayda.82 100. The Commission collected considerable information relating to the disappearances of persons from the Nafusa Mountain area in particular.83 According to several interviews 82 83 30 Human Rights Watch, “Libya: At Least 370 Missing From Country's East; Fate of Libyans in Government Custody Unknown”, 30 March 2011. Available from www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/03/30/libya-least-370-missing-countrys-east. As indicated earlier, the Commission has received reports of disappearances from many geographical locations. The inclusion of particular cases from Nafusa Mountain area reflects the nature of the Commission‟s field investigations only.