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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called upon the Libyan government to release television host Ahmed al-Sanussi from detention, following his arrest in Tripoli last Thursday. The CPJ has expressed deep concern over the authority’s lack of transparency regarding al-Sanussi’s place of detention and the reason for his arrest. According to the CPJ, the journalist has not been in contact with his family since he left for work the day he was detained.
Yeganeh Rezaian, the CPJ’s Interim MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Program Coordinator, stated, “It is unacceptable that authorities have not disclosed where he is being held or the reason for his arrest … Authorities must immediately and unconditionally free al-Sanussi and ensure he is returned home safely.”
Local media reports suggest that the Libyan Internal Security Agency in Tripoli is responsible for the arrest. Al-Sanussi, who hosts the television program Flusna on Al-Wasat TV, had recently highlighted alleged corruption within the Ministry of Economy and Trade, including accusations against its minister, Mohamed Al-Hwaij.
The arrest comes in a context where Libya’s independent media, which emerged following the 2011 uprising that ended Muammar Gaddafi’s regime, continues to face significant challenges. Human Rights Watch has documented numerous threats and assaults against journalists, noting that between mid-2012 and November 2014, there were at least 91 such incidents, affecting both male and female media workers. More details on the plight of Libyan journalists can be found in this report.
Reporters Without Borders has ranked Libya 143rd out of 180 on its 2024 media index, describing the country as “a true information black hole”. The organization highlighted the absence of laws that protect freedom of expression and journalists’ safety, a concern that was reiterated in its 2024 media index.
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