The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives, Yousef Al-Aqouri, discussed the case of young Libyans imprisoned in Italy with Francesco De Luigi, the Italian Consul General in Benghazi.
During the meeting, Al-Agouri emphasised the importance of addressing this issue and enhancing coordination between Libya and Italy. He highlighted the need for Italian support in various projects, including the coastal road and fishing collaborations.
The discussion underscored the broader cooperation on migration issues and the potential benefits of expanded Italian programmes in southern Libya.
Earlier, Libyan Football Federation President Abdel Hakim Al-Shalmani has urged Libyan and Italian authorities to find a solution for the five Libyan athletes imprisoned in Italy on illegal immigration charges.
The call was made during the ceremony where Al-Nasr F.C. was crowned Libyan Premier League champions in Rome, last week.
Al-Shalmani emphasised the need to either release the athletes or allow them to serve their sentences in Libya. The appeal was made in the presence of Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani
Since 2015, the Italian government has detained five Libyan footballers, sentencing them to 30 years in prison.In April, Libyan football players who sought migration to Italy to pursue their dreams of playing professionally in European stadiums have faced difficult circumstances since landing in Italian jails in 2015.They were charged with smuggling illegal migrants and human trafficking, including Tarek Jumaa Al-Amami, a former player for Al-Tahadi Club.
An Italian court sentenced the Libyan players to 30 years in prison on December 6, 2015. Alongside Al-Amami, the others included Alaa Faraj Al-Maghrabi from Ahly Benghazi Club, Abdul Rahman Abdul Mansour, and Mohamed Al-Sayyid from Al-Madina Tripoli Club, Mohannad Khashiba, all accused of human trafficking and aiding illegal immigrants to enter Italian territory.
