Over four years after the al-Kaniat armed group’s removal from Tarhouna, Libya, Amnesty International has called for accountability for the mass graves, unlawful killings, and enforced disappearances committed under its rule.
In a new report released on Tuesday, Amnesty described al-Kaniat’s actions as crimes against humanity, involving murder, torture, and forced displacement.
The report, titled “Every Day We Die a Thousand Times: Impunity for Crimes Against Humanity in Tarhouna,” documents al-Kaniat’s campaign of terror from 2015 to 2020. It accuses the group of systematically targeting civilians to maintain control over the region, often abducting entire families, murdering men, and forcibly displacing survivors.
In October 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for six individuals linked to these crimes, yet none have been apprehended. Amnesty urged Libyan authorities to cooperate in the arrests and ensure reparations for victims’ families.
Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director demanded an apology to survivors, financial compensation, and strict vetting to prevent militia members implicated in crimes from joining state institutions.
The report also revealed grim findings by the General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons: of 343 bodies recovered in mass graves, most showed gunshot wounds to the head or upper body, with hands tied and faces hooded.
Survivor testimonies recounted torture methods, such as beatings, electric shocks, and suffocation. Families continue to demand justice, with many receiving no financial support despite court rulings in their favour.
