Protests in Eastern Libya against Abduction of Egyptians
Libyan citizens and civil society in Tobruk have decried the abduction, torture, and murder of Egyptian migrants by smugglers.
They called on Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani and Interior Minister of
the eastern government Ibrahim Boushnaf to act against these “criminal acts.”
Recently, videos showing undocumented Egyptian migrants being tortured
in Tobruk have gone viral. Their kidnappers have demanded ransom from their
families in return for their release.
However, some of them succumbed to their wounds in hospitals.
The protesters described the acts as “inhumane”, saying they don’t
represent the values and morals of Libyans.
In a statement, the protesters demanded the immediate intervention of
Libyan National Army Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Abdel Razek
Al-Nadouri and the Libyan Coast Guard to halt these “crimes that are
undermining the safety of citizens.”
They underscored the importance of “holding the smugglers accountable
and foiling their plan to destabilize Libyan-Egyptian ties.”
Further, they encouraged the government, Egyptian army, and Border
Guards to raid the strongholds of the smugglers.
In a related context, the spokesman for the Libyan Navy chief said that
81 migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast.
Libya has become a key route for irregular migration to Europe.
While many have drowned at sea, thousands have been intercepted by the Libyan coastguard.
