On 25 March, UNSMIL called for the immediate release of political activist Al-Mahdi Abdul-Ati, who was arbitrarily arrested and detained in Misrata on 18 March reportedly by the Internal Security Agency. UNSMIL said ‘this arrest and detention appear to be in violation of Libyan laws and Libya’s international human rights obligations. This detention is not an isolated incident but a recurrent pattern among security and law enforcement entities in the country.’ It called on all Libyan authorities to end these abusive practices, release all those arbitrarily detained and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
The same day, the Delegation of the European Union and the Diplomatic Missions of the EU Member States to Libya issued a statement expressing ‘grave concern’ over Abdel-Ati’s arrest. It said, ‘His enforced disappearance, alongside broader reports of a shrinking civic space in Libya, raises serious concerns about the targeting of activists and political voices. We call on all relevant authorities to immediately disclose Mr Abdulati’s whereabouts, guarantee his safety and physical integrity, and ensure his prompt and unconditional release. Those responsible for his arbitrary detention and any ill-treatment must be held accountable without delay.’
On 30 March, Abdel-Ati was released from detention, reportedly freed after legal interventions and advocacy from local judicial bodies.