Leaked photographs of Hannibal Gadhafi, the son of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi, and the conditions in which he has been held in Lebanon have sparked concerns in Libya. The images show a small, dark cell stuffed with his belongings and a bed, with a tiny toilet. Having been held there since 2015 after being kidnapped from Syria, where he had been living as a political refugee, Gadhafi mentioned in a broadcast that he lives in misery and is a political prisoner. Libyan authorities are demanding improvements to his living conditions and have formally requested his release due to his deteriorating health.
Hannibal Gadhafi appeared to be healthy in the photos, sporting a light beard and glasses. The images were taken in recent days by a person who is in contact with him, although all sources spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Gadhafi was abducted by Lebanese militants in 2015, who were seeking information about the disappearance of prominent Lebanese Shiite cleric Moussa al-Sadr in 1978. The fate of al-Sadr remains a sensitive issue in Lebanon, with many believing he may still be alive in a Libyan prison, while others presume he is deceased.
A Libyan delegation visited Beirut in January to discuss al-Sadr’s case and Gadhafi’s release, as part of ongoing cooperation between the two countries. Reports of special treatment and cosmetic surgeries for Gadhafi, including hair transplants and teeth improvements, have fueled public outrage, leading to his hunger strike in June of the previous year. The Libyan Justice Ministry has criticized the conditions of his detention, calling for an improvement in his living standards that preserve his dignity. They also asserted that Gadhafi deserves to be released after being detained by Lebanese authorities for alleged obstruction in the investigation into al-Sadr’s disappearance.
Al-Sadr, the founder of the Amal group, a Shiite militia in Lebanon, disappeared in 1978, leading to suspicion that Gadhafi orchestrated his demise. Many of Al-Sadr’s followers believe that Gadhafi ordered his killing due to a dispute over Libyan payments to Lebanese militias. However, Libya maintains that the cleric left the country on a flight to Rome. Human Rights Watch issued a statement in January advocating for Gadhafi’s release, citing his young age at the time of al-Sadr’s disappearance, as he held no significant positions in Libya during his adult life.
The leak of photos from Gadhafi’s detention cell has reignited discussions regarding his case and the ongoing investigation into al-Sadr’s disappearance. The Libyan government is pushing for his release and an improvement in his living conditions, as concerns grow about his health and treatment in Lebanon. The calls for justice and transparency continue, as efforts to resolve the long-standing mystery surrounding al-Sadr’s fate remain unresolved. Gadhafi’s detention and the circumstances surrounding it highlight the delicate balance between international politics and human rights violations.
