The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed deep concern over the growing wave of arbitrary arrests and detentions across Libya.
In an official statement released on Saturday, UNSMIL said that law enforcement and security actors are abusing their powers to target individuals based on alleged political affiliations, to silence dissent, and to undermine the independence of the judiciary.
The statement warned that these unlawful practices are creating “a climate of fear,” restricting civic space, and eroding the rule of law in Libya. “Legal professionals and members of the judiciary have been directly targeted by violence and arbitrary arrests,” the Mission added.
UNSMIL highlighted several alarming cases, including the violent arrest of Judge Ali Al-Shareef in Tripoli on 10 March. The Mission also referred to the continued arbitrary detention of lawyer Mounir Al-Orfi in Benghazi since 12 March, and the prolonged detention of two Military Prosecutors, Mansour Da’aoub and Mohammed al-Mabrouk al-Kar, who have been held in Tripoli since 2022.
Additionally, the statement drew attention to the case of Ali Hassan Jaballah, a member of the House of Representatives, who was held arbitrarily for over a year before being sentenced by a military tribunal in October 2024. UNSMIL further noted the detention of Mohamed Mensli, head of the Libyan Asset Recovery Management Office, who has been held since 7 January without adequate legal representation or medical care. Khalifa Amghar Abdulrasul, a notable figure from Ghat, also remains detained in Benghazi since May 2024, without charge or access to his family or lawyer.
The Mission pointed to the disturbing trend of coerced video confessions, which are broadcast online to intimidate and humiliate detainees. “These videos should be declared inadmissible as evidence, and those responsible must be held accountable,” UNSMIL stated.
While welcoming recent partial access to detention facilities, UNSMIL emphasised the urgent need for unimpeded access nationwide. “Arbitrary detention and its weaponisation contribute to an atmosphere of fear and weaken public trust in law enforcement,” the statement said.
UNSMIL renewed its call for the immediate release of all individuals held arbitrarily and for accountability for those violating human rights.
