Hannibal Gaddafi, son of Muammar Gaddafi, has resumed a hunger strike in Lebanon after over a decade of detention without trial. His health has significantly worsened, with concerns expressed by his lawyer. The Lebanese government is criticized for its handling of his case, which centers around the unresolved disappearance of Lebanese cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr. Gaddafi’s detention remains a sensitive issue, particularly within the Shia community in Lebanon.
Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has reportedly returned to a hunger strike in Lebanon. This decision comes as he marks over ten years of detention without trial. His health has significantly declined, prompting urgent concerns from his legal representatives. They blame Lebanese authorities, saying Gaddafi was transferred to a hospital three times in the past month alone.
His lawyer expressed severe criticism of the Lebanese government’s handling of Gaddafi’s situation, stating, “The Lebanese government is fully responsible for my client’s deteriorating health,” as reported by Al Hadath TV. He emphasized that Gaddafi has faced arbitrary detention since 2013 without formal charges or trial, insisting he is innocent of any crime.
Local media indicates that Gaddafi resumed his hunger strike after Lebanese judicial authorities overlooked a request from Libya’s justice ministry for his release. The ministry had also offered to reveal all pertinent details regarding the 1978 disappearance of Lebanese Shia cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr, a matter central to Gaddafi’s continued detention.
Hannibal Gaddafi was captured in Syria in 2015, where he had been granted political asylum. He was subsequently turned over to Lebanese officials, who accuse him of withholding vital information about Sadr and his companions, who vanished during a visit to Libya. Notably, Gaddafi was a toddler at the time of these events and has never faced formal charges.
The case is particularly delicate in Lebanon, especially amid the Shia community, with Sadr’s family still holding out hope he might be alive, though most Lebanese believe he has passed away. He would be in his late nineties if alive today. A Libyan delegation attempted to address the situation in January 2023 by reviving a 2014 judicial cooperation agreement, but no progress has been reported.
On Wednesday, Gaddafi’s family released a statement asserting that Lebanon is accountable for his safety and well-being. They accused certain parties of trying to twist this humanitarian issue for political gain, labeling the situation as “regrettable.”
Amid the tumult, speculations have surfaced suggesting that Speaker Nabih Berri—who leads the Amal Movement founded by Sadr—might be hindering Gaddafi’s release. Concerns have risen in previous years when leaked images showed Gaddafi in a cramped underground cell, raising alarm from human rights advocates and family members. Additionally, Human Rights Watch has advocated for his release, stressing that Gaddafi had neither power in Libya nor relevance to the case, considering he was just two years old at the time of Sadr’s disappearance.
Hannibal Gaddafi’s prolonged detention in Lebanon has sparked significant concern over his health and human rights implications. His recent hunger strike highlights issues surrounding arbitrary detention without trial, which has been condemned by his legal team and human rights organizations. The ongoing situation raises questions about political motivations surrounding his case and Lebanon’s responsibility for his welfare, as discussions about his potential release continue without much progress.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
