Nasser al-Hawari, a human rights activist, was arrested in Egypt after criticizing Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar on his TV show, which discussed prison abuses linked to Haftar’s militias. Amnesty International has urged for his release and transparency regarding his detention. His family has not been informed of his whereabouts, and the situation raises concern about the treatment of activists in connection with authoritarian regimes.
Nasser al-Hawari, a human rights activist with Egyptian-Libyan heritage, was detained by Egyptian police in Alexandria on February 9, following his criticism of Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar during a televised discussion. In his show, al-Hawari spoke about prisoner abuse allegedly perpetrated by militias affiliated with Haftar, indicating plans to present more evidence of these violations in future broadcasts.
Haftar serves as the de facto ruler of eastern Libya and has significant ties to the Egyptian government, which has historically supported him with military and logistical assistance. After al-Hawari’s arrest, Amnesty International reported that the Egyptian authorities had not informed his family of his whereabouts, despite multiple complaints submitted to the Public Prosecution.
Mahmoud Shalaby, an international researcher at Amnesty International, expressed concern for al-Hawari’s well-being, noting that his family has had no contact with him since his disappearance. Shalaby emphasized the need for Egyptian authorities to disclose al-Hawari’s location and allow him to connect with his legal representatives and family.
Additionally, Egyptian police temporarily detained al-Hawari’s brother, warning him against speaking out about his brother’s situation. Al-Hawari, the director of the organization Victims for Human Rights and founder of the Libyan Observatory for Human Rights, has documented instances of torture in Libya over the past decade. Following detention in Tripoli in 2024, he fled to Tunisia and subsequently moved to Egypt.
Al-Hawari has been a vocal critic of Haftar and left eastern Libya due to previous threats after condemning human rights violations by Haftar’s forces. Shalaby condemned the retaliation against al-Hawari, underscoring that the Egyptian government’s alliance with Haftar should not provide grounds for punishing individuals who expose human rights abuses committed by his associated forces.
The detention of Nasser al-Hawari highlights the risks faced by human rights advocates in regions where government and military partnerships exist with leaders accused of human rights violations. Calls for transparency and accountability from Egyptian authorities emphasize the importance of protecting such activists and their right to voice concerns about abuses. This case reflects broader issues regarding government responses to dissent and the treatment of human rights defenders in oppressive environments.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
