Human Rights Watch has issued a plea to the Lebanese authorities for the immediate release of Hannibal Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who has been held in pre-trial detention for nearly a decade. Arrested on charges that lack substantial evidence, Gaddafi was detained in December 2015 by Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces. The allegations against him involve withholding information on the disappearance of Lebanese cleric Moussa al-Sadr, a revered figure who vanished in 1978 after meeting with Muammar Gaddafi. Hannibal was only two years old at the time, raising questions about the legitimacy of the accusations. [source]
This case underscores ongoing concerns about Lebanon’s judicial system, described by Human Rights Watch’s Ramzi Kaiss as fractured and compromised by political interference. In interviews conducted in prison, Hannibal Gaddafi described poor living conditions, including detention in a windowless, yet ventilated cell. While basic healthcare and food are provided, he reported severe malnutrition and vitamin deficiency. Long-term isolation, deprivation of sunlight, and limited family contact have taken a toll on his mental health.
His physical health has also been compromised, attributed to torture he claims to have endured following his 2015 abduction near the Syrian border. The Beirut Bar Association highlights systemic issues in Lebanese detention centers, including poor conditions and a pronounced backlog where over 80% of prisoners await sentencing.
International law mandates rigorous adherence to due process during detentions, underlining the necessity for transparency regarding grounds of arrest, timely judicial review, and feasible opportunities to challenge extended detentions. According to Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as Lebanon’s penal code, deviations from due process render a detention arbitrary and unlawful.
Despite previous efforts by Human Rights Watch to engage Lebanon’s ministers and government officials on this matter, their calls for Gaddafi’s release have reportedly gone unanswered. The organization remains steadfast in its appeal, emphasizing the need for Lebanon to comply with legal standards and ensure Gaddafi’s release. This situation continues to attract international scrutiny, as rights groups look to Lebanon to resolve this emblematic case of judicial inconsistency.