Introduction:
The Monitoring and Documentation Department of the Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) continues to monitor the human rights situation and document violations committed against civilians throughout Libya. During March 2024, we observed ongoing arbitrary arrest campaigns in areas under the control of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, with 7 cases of abduction and arbitrary detention recorded in the cities of Shahhat, Benghazi, Derna, and Al Marj, most of which were carried out by the Internal Security Agency. The loss of migrant lives also continued, with 3 bodies of migrants found on the shores of Tobruk and Sabratha. We emphasize that these numbers represent what has been observed by the field monitoring team and do not necessarily reflect the total magnitude of violations that may have occurred during the mentioned period.
Details:
March 19th:
On March 19th, the LCW monitored the arrest of a member of Libya’s High State Council, Safwan Al-Masouri, upon his return to his home in Derna from Tripoli by the Internal Security Agency, and he was released the following day.
March 21st:
The LCW documented the injury of Zuwara Municipality Council member Shukri Rouiha with a gunshot wound to the shoulder during armed clashes at the Ras Jedir border crossing with Tunisia between smuggling gangs and law enforcement forces under the Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Unity.
March 23rd:
The LCW monitored the arrest of Four (4) protesters by the Internal Security Agency in Shahhat, eastern Libya, after they issued a statement on behalf of the city’s residents regarding the continued political division and deteriorating economic situation, demanding elections. They were released after hours and warned against participating in any gatherings or issuing statements without security approval. The person who made the statement was summoned by the Benghazi Internal Security Agency the following day and released after interrogation on the same day.
March 26th:
The LCW monitor the arrest of the President of the Optimism Party, Osama Khairallah Al-Baraasi, near his home in Al-Marj, eastern Libya, by elements of the Internal Security Agency, and his transfer to the Internal Security Agency Prison in Benghazi, following his criticism of the economic situation through posts on his Facebook account. He was released through intermediaries two days later on.
On the same date, March 26th, the LCW recorded the retrieval of an unidentified body, believed to be that of a migrant, from the beach northeast of Tobruk by the Red Crescent, which was then handed over to Tobruk General Hospital for forensic procedures and cause of death determination.
March 27th:
On March 27th, we recorded the retrieval of two unidentified bodies believed to be migrants from the beach in Sabratha by the Red Crescent, which were then transported and handed over to Sabratha Hospital for forensic examination.
March 29th:
On March 29th, we recorded the injury of a 10-year-old girl by a bullet to the neck, which fell on her house during armed clashes in the Majouri neighbourhood in central Benghazi.
March 31st:
The LCW documented the abduction of Mahmoud Al-Mabrouk Boulghaib from his workplace in the Kish area of Benghazi by unidentified armed individuals wearing military uniforms, who took him to an unknown location.
Recommendations:
• The Libya Crimes Watch condemns the ongoing campaigns of abduction, enforced disappearance, and arbitrary detention. LCW calls on the Government of National Unity and the Libyan government in the east, endorsed by the Libyan parliament, to fully assume responsibility for these violations and commit to the principles of international humanitarian law and human rights standards. LCW demands them to cease abduction and arbitrary detention campaigns, disclose the fate of arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared individuals, and release them unconditionally.
• The LCW demands that the security and military authorities in eastern Libya take necessary measures to protect protesters and demonstrators from all forms of harassment, ensure freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to peaceful assembly.
• The LCW urges the Libyan Attorney General to conduct an independent and impartial investigation into human rights violations and hold those responsible accountable according to the law to ensure impunity is avoided and justice is served.
• The LCW reiterates its calls for Libyan authorities to fully assume responsibility for rescuing the lives of migrants taking both land and sea migration routes and to establish effective mechanisms for search and rescue to prevent loss of life among migrants and ensure the identification of missing individuals.
