Christians say they were tortured in Libya

Several Egyptian Christians recently released from detention by Libyan militias say they were tortured while in custody, the latest instance of abuse by the state-financed forces who handle security in many Libyan cities, Associated Press reports.

The Christians gave their accounts on Friday after returning to Egypt earlier this month.

They were among scores detained by militias in the eastern city of Benghazi on charges of proselytization. One died in custody and his family says he was tortured.

Two days before, the head of the Libyan parliament's human rights committee resigned on television, claiming he received death threats. In a separate audio clip circulated on social media, Hassan al-Amin accused militias of abuses "much worse" than those committed under Moammar Gadhafi, toppled and killed in Libya's 2011 civil war.