Political Prisoners &
Detainees
in Libya
The existence of political prisoners in Libya is denied categorically and repeatedly in public statements by Col. Gaddafi and other Libyan officials. Gaddafi also claims that Libyan prisons house only drug trafickers and other common criminals. However, as noted in the Amnesty International 2000 Report, the Gaddafi regime has failed to allow independent human rights observers to investigate his claims.
The listing below, while revealing only a fraction of the atrocities in Libya, does refute Gaddafi's claims. Many Libyans have suffered for decades as political prisoners, and many have died in prison under torture and deteriorating health conditions. The listing also shows that Libyan prisons house many educated and established professionals, whose rights are violated without charges, or through sham trials and arbitrary judgements.
The information below was compiled from databases of independent international organizations, as cited.
For additional information, refer to public
input on Libyan political prisoners.
Abdullah Ali al-Sanussi al-Darrat | Journalist. Detained since 1973, no charge or
trial, longer than any other journalist anywhere in the world.
Investigations have failed to locate his whereabouts
or obtain any information on
All requests for information from the Libyan authorities have remained unanswered. Many observers think he must have died in jail. [Source: Reporters Sans Frontiers] |
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Al-Ajili Muhammad al-Azhari
Ali Muhammad al-Akrami
Ali Muhammad al-Qajiji
Salih Omar al-Qasbi
Muhammad al-Sadiq al Tarhouni
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Five prisoners arrested in April 1973.
Charged with membership in an illegal organization (Islamic Liberation Party) and hostility to authorities. Faced lengthy legal proceedings, including in camera trial before the People's Court, Sentenced in 2/1977: 5 -15 years. No right to appeal to a higher court, but judgements subject to review by the Revolutionary Command Council which increased all sentences to life terms. All five prisoners are believed to be held in Abu Salim Prison in Tripoli. [Source: UN High Commission on Human Rights, Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.] |
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Mohamed Bashir al-Megreisi | Detained incommunicado for more than three years,
until April 1992, when allowed a visit by his wife, then detained again
incommunicado and in a secret location.
[Ref: UN Human Rights Committee] |
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al-Huwayl and al-Naquzi were arrested in similar circumstances within a few months of each other. All three are reported to be still detained at Abu Salim Prison in Tripoli. Denied family visits until March 1988. Apparently, al-Thulthi was again denied family visits from the beginning of 1989 until June 1991. The exact charges against them are not known to the source, but they are said to include membership of an illegal organization, sabotage and possession of weapons. Brought before a Revolutionary Court in February 1987 which is not known to have followed any publicly known laws. Trial apparently postponed and resumed a number of times but has not concluded. [Source: UNHCHR, Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.] |
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Sheikh Yusuf Muhammad Hussein | Imam of al-Sharquiya Mosque at al-Fatih University,
Arrested: 10 January 1989.
Alleged to be 1 of 392 political prisoners detained between 1/1980 and
4/1990, most were suspected of being active political opponents or
supporters of the opposition, particularly religious groups.
[Source: UNHCHR, Report of Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.] |
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Rashid Abdul Hamid al-Urfia, | Law graduate, detained since February, 1982.
Reportedly arrested with 20 others on suspicion of founding an Islamist opposition group. All those arrested with him were released following a general amnesty in 1988, but he remained in Abu Salim Prison in Tripoli. [Sources: UN High Commission on Human Rights and Amnesty International's 2000 Report.] |
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Detained in June & July, 1998
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Farhat El-Houni, Laboratory Technician
Faculty of Engineering
Hamed Naser El-Werfalli, M.Sc. Mathematics Tareg Ahmed Bou-Zeriba, M.Sc. Computer Science Salah Omar Al-Shamekh, M.Sc. Zoology
Abdel-Barie Al-A 'Rousi, Ph.D., Corrosion Engineering Abdel-la Tief Karmous, Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering Sulaiman El-Fandi, Ph.D. Electrical Engineering Rajad El-Jaroushi , Ph.D. Civil Engineering Sulaiman Ali Khatroush, Ph.D. Head of Civil Engineering Dept., Faculty of Engineering Abdullah Ahmed I'zedien, Ph.D. Nuclear Engineering Salem Abuhanak, Ph.D. Head of Chemistry Dept., Faculty of Science Anies Hasan Gwaidhi Student, Faculty of Medicine Nazar Kraikesh Student, Faculty of Medicine Khalid El-Jazwie Student, Faculty of Medicine Hammad Beltaieb Student, Faculty of Medicine Yusef Abu-Sha'Ala Student, Faculty of Engineering Khalid El-Hashmie Medical Doctor
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Abdel-Rahman Abdel-Majeed El-Daiban
Medical Doctor
Jamal El-Majrie Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Abdel-Jawad Mohamed Shatwan, M.Sc. Computer Science Ali-El-Sadeg El-Houni, M.Sc. Electrical Engineering Khalid El-Hashmie El-Zaroug Engineering
Fawzie Wanies El-Ghadhafi Electrical Engineering Adel Saleh El-Werfalli Agricultural Engineering Ahmed Jaballah El-Meghrabie Agricultural Engineering Kamal El-Wesh Aviation Ground Engineering
Faisal Mohamed El-Safi Flight Engineering Fawzie Bu-Katif Communications Engineering Ahmed Dasougi Computer Science Engineering Salah El-Zaroug El-Saa'Itie Civil Engineering E'Isa El-Zwaie Civil Engineering
Khalid Mohamed Shoua'Ieb Engineering
Mohammad Faraj Al-Qallal Graduate of Institute of Administrative Sciences |
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Deported to Libya |
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Al-Sayyid Mohammad Shabou | Libyan citizen with refugee status in the
United Kingdom, was detained by the Libyan authorities after he and his family were forcibly returned to Libya by the Saudi Arabian authorities in 1998. He continued to be held without charge or trial, reportedly in connection with his Islamist opposition activities. [Amnesty International, 2000 Report.] |
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Jamal Mabrouk abu Sha'ala
Ayman Awad al-Khbouli Sammi Mohamed Sassi Adel Salem Kamouka Ayman Mohammed Atiya Ashraf Sulayman al-Hamrouni Abdulhafid Mohamed an-Najjar [Name missing] |
Eight Libyans deported from Jordan in March,
2000.
Three reportedly executed shortly after arrival. [Source: Islamic Observation Center.] |
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Prisoners Who Died in Custody Under Torture & Medical Neglect
from UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
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Read/Write public input on Libyan political prisoners.