Ibrahim Adam, a Sudanese refugee born in 2004, was killed by a group of teenagers and young men in Sabratha, Libya. According to the National Institution for Human Rights in Libya (NIHRL), the murder was fuelled by rising incitement and hate speech against irregular migrants.
The incident took place near a housing area for migrant workers in the city. The police stated that Adam was shot and severely wounded before being rushed to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The NIHRL’s Fact-Finding and Documentation Unit monitored and documented the case. They confirmed that Adam had fled the war in Sudan and sought work in Sabratha to escape the suffering in his home country. However, he became a victim of what NIHRL describes as growing hostility towards migrants, often promoted by some social media platforms and local media outlets.
In its statement, the Sabratha Security Directorate announced that the suspects were arrested and referred to the Public Prosecution to face legal action for premeditated murder.
The NIHRL issued a public warning urging citizens not to fall prey to hate campaigns or calls for violence against migrants and foreign workers. The organisation stressed the need for families to monitor their children closely and prevent them from being influenced by misleading and inflammatory content online.
The institution called on media outlets and social platforms to take responsibility for curbing hate speech and preventing the spread of misinformation that fuels violence against migrants in Libya.