Following the pictures and videos leaked last week appearing to show House of Representatives (HoR) member Ibrahim al-Darsi in a cell with chains rounds his neck and signs of torture, the calls for justice and accountability have grown.
The Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper said it had confirmed the authenticity of the leaked images and videos via an in-depth analysis. It also said a member of al-Darsi’s family had confirmed the video’s authenticity based on identifiable marks on the MP’s body known to the family, which were clearly visible in the footage. There are reports that HoR members are under significant pressure not to speak about the case to the press. In addition, sources report that four young men from the Drasa tribe have been arrested.
On 8 May, the Government of National Stability (GNS) PM Osama Hammad met with a delegation of the leaders and elders of the al-Darsa tribe, in the presence of the Head of the Internal Security Agency, the GNS MoI and the Deputy Chief of the Libyan Intelligence Agency. The heads of the security agencies explained to the attendees the latest updates on the investigations and outlined what actions have been taken since the reports of the incident and regarding the veracity and source of the footage.
In the wake of these calls, the Attorney General has launched an investigation.
On 12 May, the Attorney General Sadiq al-Sour arrived in Benghazi to launch an investigation into the abduction of Ibrahim al-Darsi in Benghazi in May 2024. Sour met with the PM Hammad upon his arrival.
On 12 May, UN SRSG Hanna Tetteh said that UNSMIL welcomes the Attorney-General’s mission to Benghazi to investigate the disappearance of al-Darsi, saying they hope ‘this will shed light on his whereabouts and bring those responsible for his disappearance to justice.’ UNSMIL ‘anticipates full and transparent cooperation from relevant authorities with the Attorney-General on this investigation as well as other investigations into violations and abuses by security actors across Libya including abductions, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions.’ The Mission stands ready to provide necessary support to conclude this investigation, address the legitimate concerns of his family and the Libyan people and end the cycle of impunity for serious human rights violations, including international crimes.