The Libyan Tribal Union strongly called upon Lebanese authorities for the “immediate and unconditional release of Hannibal Gaddafi,” indicating potential actions if their demands are not met.
After all peaceful options seem to have failed, the Libyan tribes are hinting at possible retaliation, asserting that their “patience has been exhausted.” This retaliatory stance is seen as the last resort, indicating an escalation of the situation surrounding Gaddafi’s arrest in Lebanon.
In a strongly-worded statement, the tribes warned about the consequences of continuing the detention of Hannibal. They extended their plea for help to “all friends of the Libyan people around the globe, and all possible means to be utilized to secure the release of Hannibal.” Simultaneously, they hold the Lebanese authorities “fully responsible for any consequences and reactions resulting from the continued detention of Hannibal.”
Last month, the Italian-Arab Friendship Association demanded the immediate release of Hannibal, and threatened an international lawsuit against the Lebanese authorities.
In a statement, the association said: “The Lebanese judiciary must play a positive role in not allowing this operation to serve personal or partisan goals.”
The association added that Hannibal’s detention “is a political and illegal hostage-taking, particularly since his detention, without trial, for all these years violates all human laws.”
It pointed out that “the illegal detention of Hannibal Gaddafi exposes Lebanon to more problems that may lead to international lawsuits.”
As well as describing the kidnapping as a “retaliatory act in response to the disappearance of Shiite cleric Musa Al-Sadr.”
The association said: “We are surprised by this act against a child who was two years old when Musa Al-Sadr was kidnapped in Libya.”
It called on “honest Lebanese judges to intervene, and release a citizen who is not guilty of this incident.” As well as emphasising that “continuing to detain Hannibal may expose Lebanon’s reputation, and the integrity of its judiciary to international forums.”
The kidnapping of Hannibal Gaddafi has been a continuing issue that has strained relations between Libya and Lebanon. The Italian-Arab Friendship Association’s statement is the latest in a series of calls for his release, highlighting the ongoing international interest in the case.
The son of the former Libyan leader, Hannibal has been held in Lebanese custody for the past eight years. In response to recent reports of his declining health condition, instigated by a five-day hunger strike, Libya formed a committee to keep a close watch on Gaddafi’s case.
