Libya vexed by Lebanon’s treatment of Gaddafi’s son
Leaked photographs of Hannibal Gaddafi who resides in a cramped, underground cell have surfaced, raising concerns in the North African nation as Libyan authorities demand improvements, reports Asharq Al-Awsat plus agencies.
Gaddafi, the fifth son to the late former chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, has been held in pretrial detention on suspicious charges since his arrest in 2015.
The photographs showed a small room, absent of natural light, crammed with Gaddafi’s belongings with a single bed and a tiny toilet. Gaddafi appeared healthy, growing a light beard and wearing glasses.
Two Lebanese judicial officials confirmed to the Associated Press on April 29th that the photographs aired by Al-Jadeed are indeed of Gaddafi in his cell, where he has been held at police headquarters in Beirut.
A Libyan citizen, who spoke on the condition of anonymity and is usually in contact with Gaddafi, confirmed that the photos were taken in recent days.
READ: Libyans express anger over Hannibal Gaddafi
“I live in misery,” Al-Jadeed TV quoted the detainee saying in an evening broadcast on the 27th of April, adding that he is a political prisoner in a case he has no information about.
The leaks by Al-Jadeed came after reports that Gaddafi was receiving special treatment during his detainment and that he had cosmetic surgeries including hair transplants and teeth improvements. “Let them take my hair and teeth and give me my freedom” Al-Jadeed quoted from the prisoner.
In protest of his detention without trial, Gaddafi went on a hunger strike in June 2023 and was taken to a hospital after his health deteriorated.
Libya’s Justice Ministry called on Lebanese authorities to improve Gaddafi’s living conditions to one that “preserves his dignity” in a statement on the 28th of April. They further explained that he is being deprived of his international human rights adding that Lebanese authorities should formally inform the ministry of the improvements. The statement also released that Gaddafi deserves to be released overall.
Where tensions between Libya and Lebanon grow regarding Gaddafi’s incarceration, Libyan authorities visited Beirut in January to revisit a decade-old deal regarding the disappearance of Imam Musa Al Sadr. Lebanon was permitted access to the w case and Libya committed to amplifying their support.
READ: Libya and Lebanon discuss Lebanese Imam’s 46-year absence
Gaddafi has been held in Lebanon since he was kidnapped in 2015 from neighbouring Syria, where he had been living as a political refugee. He was abducted by Lebanese militants, who demanded information about Moussa Al-Sadr, who went missing in 1978 along with an aide and a journalist, during a trip to Libya.
Al-Sadr was the founder of the Amal group, a Shiite militia that fought in Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war and later became a political party that is currently led by the country’s Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri.
The fate of Al-Sadr has been a prominent sore point for Lebanon. Though most presume that Al-Sadr, who would be 95 now, is dead, his family cling to the hope that he may still be alive in a Libyan prison.
Muammar Gaddafi was blamed by Al-Sadr’s followers for the disappearances and was overthrown and killed in 2011. This resulted in strained ties between Libya and Lebanon.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement in January that called for Gaddafi’s release as he was only 2 years old at the time of Al-Sadr’s disappearance and held no senior position in Libya as an adult.
Asharq Al-Awsat/ Agencies.
