The Libyan Attorney General’s Office has ordered the detention of a man who released a lion on people in what he described as a “joke.” The incident, captured on video, sparked outrage in both Libya and Egypt.
A statement issued late on Wednesday confirmed the arrest. It said the footage showed behaviour “contrary to religion, law, and humanity.” The man was seen unleashing the predator on unsuspecting victims, spreading fear and mocking them. Prosecutors said the stunt caused serious psychological and social harm.
The case gained wide attention after a video circulated showing the man releasing his lion on an Egyptian worker. The incident drew anger across social media in Libya and Egypt. Despite the suspect claiming it was only meant as fun, prosecutors moved quickly to charge him.
This was not the first time the man was linked to such behaviour. In July, another video showed him releasing the same lion on African workers in his farm, apparently to terrify them. That video also caused widespread condemnation.
The Attorney General’s Office stressed that such acts cannot be justified as entertainment. Authorities warned that spreading fear through wild animals posed serious risks.
Libya has witnessed several similar cases in recent years, as the private keeping of predators has become a trend. Despite an official ban, lions, tigers, and other wild animals are often kept in farms and private homes.
These practices have led to deadly outcomes. A four-year-old child was killed in Ajdabiya after being mauled by a tiger. In another case, a Sudanese worker was killed by lions in a farm in Benghazi’s Buhedi area three years ago.
The latest arrest highlights growing public pressure on authorities to strictly enforce laws against keeping wild animals in residential or farming areas.
