A group representing the families of victims from the Abu Salim Prison Massacre in Libya has marked the 28th anniversary of the tragic event with a protest against the ongoing lack of justice. The association, known as the Association of Families of Martyrs of the Abu Salim Prison Massacre, has called for the full revelation of the crime’s details, the establishment of justice, and the punishment of those involved. This appeal was reiterated as the association expressed frustration over the continued negligence of the authorities.
The massacre, which took place in 1996, involved the deaths of 1,200 prisoners, as stated by Human Rights Watch. Initial details were sparse, and the Libyan government under Muammar Gaddafi denied any incident when it first occurred. It wasn’t until 2004 that Gaddafi acknowledged the killings, but subsequent investigations into the incident have been unsuccessful due to lack of cooperation from the Libyan authorities.
An ex-prisoner who managed to flee to the United States later recounted that the massacre began when prisoners took a guard hostage in protest of poor living conditions. This led to an escape attempt and a violent response from prison guards. High-ranking security official Abdullah Sanussi arrived and began negotiations, resulting in the temporary release of guards in exchange for better conditions for the prisoners. However, many of the prisoners were subsequently relocated to different parts of the prison where they were allegedly executed.
Additionally, the Association organized an exhibition featuring the victims’ personal belongings and photos, continuing their campaign to keep the memory of the atrocity alive. In contrast, Libya’s Presidential Council has made no provisions for the families to be included in national reconciliation dialogues, leaving many families feeling sidelined. More details on the protest can be found in the JURIST report.