Recent arrests in Libya have brought global attention to the ongoing human rights abuses faced by refugees and migrants trying to escape conflict and trafficking.
A video released on 6 January 2025, depicting the brutal treatment of 20-year-old Naima Jamal, an Ethiopian migrant, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for accountability. Jamal, who fled the violence in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, was captured by traffickers upon her arrival in Libya. Her family, unable to pay the extortionate ransom demands, was sent harrowing footage of her suffering, which highlights the horrifying conditions many migrants endure in the country.
These abuses are part of a broader pattern of violence against migrants trapped within Libya’s unstable and exploitative system. Despite the European Union’s efforts to curb migrant arrivals, reports indicate that conditions for those stuck in Libya have not improved.
Many migrants, including children, are subjected to violence and exploitation by militias and traffickers. Rescues are often thwarted by EU-backed policies, such as the interception of boats attempting to reach Europe and the subsequent return of migrants to Libya, where they face further abuse. The recent disappearance of Gambian migrants, intercepted by Tunisia’s Garde Nationale, exemplifies the extreme risks migrants face as they seek to escape the brutal realities of their circumstances.
The arrest of two gang members for their involvement in the torture and detention of 263 migrants only highlights the dire situation. With ransoms as high as $17,000 for Somali migrants and $10,000 for Eritreans, these individuals are subjected to horrific abuse and extortion. Critics of European migration policies, such as David Yambio from Refugees in Libya, point out that EU agreements with Libya effectively empower criminal militias under the guise of ‘border management,’ rather than protecting human rights. Italy’s strict immigration measures, including offshore processing and the establishment of detention centres in Albania, have also drawn substantial criticism for violating international law and undermining the right to asylum. These policies, combined with Libya’s political chaos, continue to perpetuate a cycle of exploitation and suffering for vulnerable migrants.
