On 18 March in the evening, the political activist al-Mahdi Abu al‑Qasim Abdel‑Ati was abducted by an unidentified armed group in Misrata. There were rumours that the Misrata Joint Force was behind the disappearance of Abdel-Ati.
On 19 March, the National Institution for Human Rights in Libya (NIHRL) reported that anti‑corruption activist Abdel‑Ati was abducted the night before in Misrata by masked gunmen linked to a local security body. The Institution expressed deep concern and demanded his immediate, unconditional release while holding the responsible entity fully accountable for his safety. It condemned the incident as a grave human rights violation, an act of arbitrary detention, and a breach of constitutional guarantees and international obligations protecting freedom of expression and political participation. The NIHRL urged the Government of National Unity (GNU) and its security forces to respect constitutional, legal, and international commitments, end abuses of power aimed at silencing dissent, and ensure citizens are protected from unlawful arrest and disappearance.
On 20 March, the Libyan National Gathering Party condemned the abduction of Abdel‑Ati, calling it a cowardly criminal act aimed at silencing dissent. They demanded his immediate release. It held the kidnappers fully responsible for his safety and urged the Attorney General to pursue the perpetrators. The Libyan National Gathering Party warned that targeting peaceful political activity violates national and international law.
On 21 March, the NIHRL reported that Abdel-Ati remained abducted for the fourth consecutive day. The unidentified security body, which is behind his disappearance, has neither disclosed its identity nor provided any legal basis for the arrest or information on his whereabouts.
Salem Karwad, a leading Misrata figure and co‑founder of its civil movement, warned that the disappearance of Abdel‑Ati threatens all activists and restricts freedom of expression, fueling political and social tension in the city.
On 22 March, the family of Abdel-Ati said that they have received information that his health has severely deteriorated due to torture during his detention, forcing his transfer to a hospital for treatment. They hold PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba and the Internal Security Agency fully responsible for his safety and urged the Attorney General to open a transparent investigation immediately and hold all perpetrators accountable. The family also called on the UN Support Mission in Libya and international human rights organizations to intervene to ensure Abdel-Ati’s protection, warning that the continued mistreatment poses a direct threat to his life.