Anger and violence against migrants in Misrata spiked this week after the kidnapping of an anti-migrant activist in the city.
On 25 September, the civil activist al-Muatasim Abu Jinnah was kidnapped by unidentified armed elements in Misrata. He was very active on social media, where he published videos opposing illegal immigration and the settlement of foreigners in Libya, including Palestinians. He accused certain officials of enabling these efforts. Abu Jinnah advocated for setting limits on illegal migration and strongly rejected any kind of forced resettlement as well as the imposition of faits accomplis by external actors or local Libyan authorities. In his final video before the kidnapping, Abu Jinnah claimed he had received threats due to his outspoken views. Allegedly, he had been threatened by a member of the Palestinian community in Misrata previously.
On 26 September later in the afternoon, a relatively large demonstration took place in Misrata at Clock Square, rejecting the settlement of illegal migrants in Libya and demanding the immediate release of Muatasim Abu Jinnah. About 1,000 people participated. After the end of the demonstration, the African Market nearby was ransacked by some protesters.
The Misrata Movement Against the Settlement of Foreigners and Illegal Immigrants issued a strong statement opposing the resettlement of foreigners and illegal immigrants in Libya. The statement urged state institutions to enforce immigration laws to protect national sovereignty. The movement expressed solidarity with Palestinians, supporting their right of return and rejecting any plans to settle them in Libya. The Movement urged Libyan media to raise awareness about the risks of settlement. The movement clarified that Libya is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and emphasized that the Geneva Conventions allow only for temporary refuge, not permanent resettlement. The statement concluded with a demand for the immediate and unconditional release of its member al-Muatasim Abu Jinnah.
The Qarara tribe demanded the release of their kidnapped son Abu Jinnah, and called on the Attorney General to intervene and reveal his fate.
In the evening, a few hundred people demonstrated on Tripoli’s Martyr’s Square against the spread and settlement of illegal immigrants in their city. They affirmed their complete rejection of ‘Dabaiba’s resettlement project’ and demanded the deportation of all migrants from Libya.
HoR member from Kufra Saeed Amghaib warned that the unchecked influx of undocumented migrants poses a serious threat to the country’s national, social, and demographic stability. In a public statement, he highlighted rising pressures on essential services, increased crime and smuggling, and potential security risks from extremist elements. Amghaib also pointed to long-term dangers such as demographic shifts, erosion of sovereignty through foreign interference, economic strain, and the weakening of national identity. He urged authorities to adopt strict, coordinated policies, cautioning that complacency could lead to severe consequences for Libya’s future.
Presidential candidate Suleiman al-Bayoudi expressed solidarity, stating that the abduction of dissidents signals the erosion of the ruling powers’ authority.
On 27 September in the morning, about 150 migrants gathered in front of the embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli and demanded that the embassy facilitate their return home.
Misrata mayor Mahmoud al-Suqotri rejected the resettlement of refugees in Libya but condemned the attacks against migrant workers the day before in his city. The increasing numbers of illegal immigrants cannot be tolerated by the city. He blamed ‘whoever protects the southern borders’ as bearing responsibility for their entry.
On 29 September in the early afternoon, a violent fight erupted in the Kharouba area east of Misrata airport between migrant workers from Niger and Egypt, leaving several individuals seriously injured. Multiple critical cases were transported to the hospital for urgent medical care.