LIBYA: ALKARAMA URGENTLY ADDRESSES THE UNITED NATIONS REGARDING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST NASSER AL HAWARI

Alkarama expresses its concern about the disappearance of Libyan activist Nasser Fathallah Mansour Ali AL HAWARI in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, since the evening of Monday, January 29, 2024. 

Alkarama urgently contacted the United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders to request their urgent intervention in this regard. 

Alkarama has received a report from the family who fear for the life of the activist with whom they have lost all contact since Monday, January 29, 2024 following his abduction, at around five o'clock in the afternoon, in the street by several members of the security forces. 

AL HAWARI, 50 years old, is the director of the organization "Victims for Human Rights" and founder of the Libyan Observatory for Human Rights. He was forced to flee Benghazi to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, for fear of reprisals for his activities as a human rights defender. Today, he himself is the victim of a violation of his right to security. 

AL HAWARI had previously been the subject of an attempted abduction in December 2023 instigated by forces in the eastern region, including forces led by Saddam Khaftar, the son of General Khalifa Haftar, due to his human rights activity and criticism of the serious rights violations committed by Khaftar's son. 

It is likely that he was abducted this time by security forces in Tripoli in contact with parties in eastern Libya. 

AL HAWARI's family reports that the security authorities in Tripoli, whom they spoke to following the abduction, all denied any knowledge of the incident and his disappearance. The family also informed the Department of Rule of Law and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and numerous human rights organizations, to no avail. 

The victim's family confirmed that they had not been contacted by any of the authorities before speaking to Alkarama, adding that the victim's lawyer was unable to obtain any information about him. His family is now unaware of his fate. 

Alkarama stresses that the Tripoli authorities are responsible for the safety and life of Libyan human rights activist Nasser Fathallah Mansour Ali AL HAWARI and demands that his fate be immediately revealed, that his safety be guaranteed and that he be immediately placed under the protection of the law with a view to his release.