The SOS MEDITERRANEE has announced the rescue of 54 migrants, including 28 minors, by the Ocean Viking ship in the Libyan Search and Rescue (SAR) zone.
Concerns are escalating in Libya over the increasing number of irregular migrants, particularly as the European Union pushes policies to keep them in transit countries.
Experts and citizens fear that Libya, with its vast territory and ongoing political divisions, could become a safe haven for those fleeing wars or criminal sentences in their home countries. Many of these migrants lack identification, complicating the situation further.
Reports indicate that migrants are being expelled from neighboring countries into Libya, exacerbating the issue. The rise of far-right factions in Libya, which advocate for strict anti-migrant policies, adds to the complexity of the situation.
A recent secret report by the United Nations on human rights revealed that Tunisian border forces have detained migrants and handed them over to Libyan border guards. These migrants reportedly face extortion, torture, and even death, along with forced labor, according to multiple reports.
Libyan authorities did not respond to Sputnik’s inquiries regarding these violations and the mass transport of migrants.
Fatima Hassouni, director of the Legal Office at the Center for Freedom and Human Rights in Libya, criticized the EU’s policy of outsourcing migration control to other countries in exchange for aid.
She argued that this policy leads to human rights abuses and fails to address the underlying issues. Hassouni highlighted that this approach opens the door to large-scale migration, which in turn fuels human trafficking.
Hassouni pointed out that the increase in irregular migration leads to more human rights violations and risks turning Libya into a transit hub or safe haven for migrants, including those fleeing criminal sentences. She noted that mid-last year, hundreds of migrants were arrested and deported to Libya.
