The United Nations Libya mission (UNSMIL) has called on Libyan authorities on Wednesday to release political activist, Al-Moatassim Al-Areebi and to end arbitrary detentions.
Al-Areebi, 29, was abducted on Monday in Misrata by unidentified armed men in civilian clothes, along with his friend, Mohamed Shtewi, UNSMIL stated. While Shtewi was released “after being beaten,” the whereabouts of Al-Areebi remain unknown, according to the mission. UNSMIL urged Misrata’s security and law enforcement agencies to investigate Al-Areebi’s abduction, disclose his location, and secure his safe and immediate release.
Misrata, a port city about 200 km (125 miles) east of Tripoli, is under the control of the Tripoli government, which has not commented on the case. “Reports of arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, ill-treatment, torture, and deaths in custody committed with impunity continue to plague Libya,” UNSMIL noted.
Libya has faced persistent instability since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising ousted leader, Muammar Gaddafi. The country split in 2014 between eastern factions in Benghazi and western factions in Tripoli, with rival administrations governing each region.
“The mission has documented cases of at least 60 individuals currently detained across the country for their actual or perceived political affiliation,” UNSMIL stated.
