Leaked footage shows missing Libyan MP tortured in detention
A National Trantional Council fighter guards the entrance to a ward of the infamous Djeida prison in Tripoli on October 11, 2011. Some 1400 inmates are detained in this facility, among them former regime ministers, loyalist fighters, ordinary criminals and foreign immigrants. AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI (Photo by Marco LONGARI / AFP) (Photo by MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images)
Footage circulating on social media reveals Libyan MP Ibrahim Al-Dersi, missing for nearly a year, being held in appalling and degrading conditions, according to Moroccan government-friendly Atalayar, reported on May 26th.
The images shows Al-Dersi shackled by the neck, wearing only underwear, and visibly suffering from severe torture and exhaustion. The graphic nature of the footage has been widely condemned, prompting urgent demands for an impartial international inquiry to uncover the facts surrounding his detention and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Ibrahim Al-Dersi, a well-known member of the Libyan parliament, disappeared under unclear circumstances nearly a year ago, prompting widespread speculation about his fate.
Some sources suggest that his disappearance could be connected to his outspoken criticism of power centralisation in eastern Libya. His remarks reportedly drew backlash, highlighting the ongoing political fragmentation that has gripped the country since the 2011 collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.
Libya remains politically fractured, with the UN-recognised Government of National Unity operating from Tripoli, while a rival administration in the east—supported by Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s forces—continues to hold power. This ongoing division has contributed to a rise in human rights abuses, including cases of arbitrary detention and torture.
On May 5th, Libya Al Ahrar, a Libyan broadcast channel, aired disturbing footage allegedly showing Al-Dersi inside a prison cell, visibly distressed and appealing for his release. His family has since verified the video’s authenticity, citing identifiable physical features.
The leaked footage has cast a stark light on the deteriorating security conditions in eastern Libya, deepening the country’s already fragile political climate.
The images have drawn strong condemnation from various quarters. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) voiced its “deep shock” over the footage and urged the launch of an independent investigation to uncover the details surrounding Al-Dersi’s detention.
UNSMIL underscored that acts such as torture, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearance represent grave violations of human rights and may amount to international crimes prosecutable by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The mission also called for the immediate release of all individuals held without due process in Libya and urged accountability for those responsible.
This controversy is unfolding against the backdrop of a deeply polarised political landscape, where Libyans continue to endure severe divisions and persistent human rights abuses. United Nations reports indicate that, in the absence of effective governance, arbitrary detentions and acts of torture have become alarmingly common.
The case of Ibrahim Al-Dersi has come to represent the broader struggle for justice in Libya, highlighting the vulnerability of citizens, including elected officials who are meant to be protected by legal immunity.
Demands for an impartial international inquiry are intensifying, with human rights groups stressing the urgency of holding perpetrators accountable. With Al-Dersi’s safety still unknown, the case raises critical concerns about the Libyan authorities’ capacity to safeguard their people.
Atalayar/ Al Jazeera/ Maghrebi.org
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