Introduction:
The month of December witnessed the continued perpetration of human rights violations and international crimes against civilians by security and military forces, as well as armed groups. This occurred amid a clear failure by authorities in both eastern and western Libya to fulfill their obligations to protect human rights and ensure accountability.
During this period, the field monitoring team of Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) documented cases of extrajudicial killings, including two (2) in the cities of Ajdabiya and Al-Bayda, one of which involved a migrant. Additionally, two (2) cases of arbitrary arrest were monitored in Tripoli and Benghazi, targeting an activist and an employee of the World Islamic Call Society (WICS). The team further monitored the discovery of sixteen (16) bodies believed to belong to migrants, including one (1) woman, near the shores of Tripoli, Al-Zawiya, Zliten, and Benghazi. Moreover, two (2) decomposed bodies were exhumed from a mass grave in the city of Tarhuna.
LCW emphasizes that these figures represent only the cases monitored by its field monitoring team and do not necessarily reflect the full scale of violations committed during the reporting period. LCW reiterates its call on Libyan authorities to assume their legal and moral responsibilities to protect civilians and ensure accountability for those responsible for these violations.
Details:
December 1st:
On December 1, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) body belonging to a female migrant on the shoreline of Al-Qazahiya, west of the city of Zliten. The body was recovered by the Marine Rescue Unit of the National Safety Authority (NSA) and transported to the hospital to complete the necessary legal procedures.
December 14th:
On December 14, LCW monitored the arbitrary detention of activist Haitham Al-Werfali (34 years old) by the Internal Security Agency (ISA) in Benghazi, affiliated with the Libyan government endorsed by the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR).
His arrest followed posts he shared on his personal Facebook account criticizing authorities in eastern Libya. Al-Werfali was released on December 19 after four (4) days of detention without legal procedures.
On the same day, LCW also monitored the discovery of two (2) bodies in a mass grave in the Wadi Washtata area, south of the city of Tarhuna. The bodies were recovered by the General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons (GASIMP), affiliated with the Government of National Unity (GNU). They were transferred to the Department of Forensic Medicine and Remains Search for further legal procedures.
December 15th:
On December 15, LCW documented the death of Adel Abdel Salam Muftah Al-Werfali (44 years old) due to torture in the Department of Information and General Investigations at the Security Directorate of Ajdabiya, which is under the Ministry of Interior of the Libyan government endorsed by Libyan HoR.
Al-Werfali had been transferred to Al-Shaheed Mohammed Al-Maqrief Hospital on December 6 for surgery following a brain hemorrhage caused by torture. He passed away nine (9) days later.
December 16th:
On December 16, LCW monitored the arbitrary detention of Mu’adh Mohammed Al-Hashimi (37 years old), Director of the Investment Office at the World Islamic Call Society (WICS), by armed men affiliated with the Public Security and Security Positions Apparatus (PSSA) under the Ministry of Interior of the GNU. The incident occurred near the Dat-Al-Imad complex in central Tripoli after Al-Hashimi refused to hand over the Investment Office to the WICS’s newly imposed, illegal administration.
He was taken to an unknown location and was released on December 26, after 10 days of detention without legal procedures.
December 19th:
On December 19, LCW monitored the discovery of ten (10) unidentified bodies belonging to migrants whose boat capsized near the Deela Fishing Port in Zawiya. The bodies were recovered by the Zawiya branch of the Libyan Red Crescent and transferred to The Zawiya Teaching Hospital for legal procedures.
December 21st:
On December 21, LCW documented the death of a (64-year-old) Syrian migrant as a result of torture endured during his detention. The individual was arrested on November 26 in Al-Bayda, eastern Libya, and released on December 20 after (24) days of arbitrary detention
December 25th:
On December 25, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to belong to a migrant, on the shore of Gargaresh, west of Tripoli. The body was recovered by the Tripoli branch of the Libyan Red Crescent and transferred to the hospital for legal procedures.
On the same day, another one (1) decomposed unidentified body, also believed to belong to a migrant, was found on the shore of Sidi Khalifa, north of Benghazi. It was recovered by the Benghazi General Administration for Coastal Security (GACS) and transferred to the hospital for further legal processes.
December 28th:
On December 28, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to belong to a migrant, on the shore of Al-Qasriyah in the Gargaresh area, west of Tripoli. The body was recovered by the Tripoli branch of the Libyan Red Crescent and transferred to the hospital for legal procedures.
December 29th:
On December 29, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) unidentified body, believed to belong to a migrant, on the shore of Al-Siyahiya, west of Tripoli. The body was recovered by the Tripoli branch of the Libyan Red Crescent and transferred to the hospital for legal procedures.
December 30th:
On December 30, LCW monitored the discovery of one (1) decomposed unidentified body, believed to belong to a migrant, on the shore near the Al-Qardabiya area, east of Sirte. The body was recovered by the General Directorate of Coastal Security in Sirte and transferred to Ibn Sina Hospital for legal procedures.
Recommendations:
- The Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) calls on the Libyan Attorney General to conduct independent and transparent investigations into documented cases of extrajudicial killings and torture, including instances that resulted in death. LCW further urges ensuring accountability for those responsible in accordance with international fair trial standards. LCW also calls for necessary measures to prevent impunity for those involved in these violations.
- The LCW calls on authorities in both eastern and western Libya to respect and protect freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the right to peaceful assembly. This includes ensuring that civilians are not prosecuted for participating in peaceful demonstrations or expressing political views.
- The LCW reiterates its call on Libyan authorities to take responsibility for saving the lives of migrants along migration routes and at sea. LCW emphasizes the need for collaboration with international organizations to establish effective search and rescue mechanisms to prevent migrant fatalities, locate missing persons, and identify victims. Furthermore, LCW urges an independent and transparent investigation to identify those responsible for human trafficking and ensure accountability in line with international fair trial standards.
- The LCW urges the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Key international stakeholders in Libya to intensify pressure on all parties to respect and protect human rights. It also calls for efforts toward achieving transitional justice, national reconciliation, and ending the cycle of impunity
- Thee LCW renews its demand for the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reverse its decision to halt investigations in Libya by the end of 2025, ensuring that perpetrators do not escape accountability.
