Libyan journalist Ashraf Al-Sharif was released just hours after being abducted by unidentified armed men outside his home in the Bin Ashour district of Tripoli, sparking renewed concerns over the rise in arbitrary detentions across the country.
Al-Sharif confirmed his release on Sunday evening after his family had earlier reported his forcible disappearance. According to a family statement, he was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in two unmarked civilian vehicles and taken to an unknown location.
The incident has highlighted the growing threats to press freedom and personal safety in Libya, especially in the capital, where multiple cases of arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance have been documented in recent months.
Al-Sharif’s most recent public appearance was during the month of Ramadan, where he hosted the program “Lahom Bel Mirsad” on Salam TV, discussing sensitive topics such as sorcery and superstition, which may have provoked controversy.
This abduction comes amid a spike in unlawful detentions and a broader climate of fear for journalists and civil society activists. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and international human rights groups have repeatedly voiced alarm over the deterioration of civil liberties in the country.
On March 22, UNSMIL described the widespread arbitrary arrests and detentions carried out by law enforcement and security actors across Libya as “horrifying,” urging an immediate halt to these violations.
In a joint statement issued on March 28, the Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) called on the UN Human Rights Council and UNSMIL to urgently establish mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable and to monitor and report such violations.
