Son of Late Libyan Leader Calls for Justice After Seven Years in Custody
Hannibal Gadhafi, the son of Libya’s late leader Moammar Gadhafi, has commenced a hunger strike in Lebanon to protest his prolonged detention without trial. Gadhafi has been held since 2015, following his abduction from Syria, where he had been living as a political refugee.
His lawyer, Paul Romanos, confirmed that Gadhafi began the hunger strike on Saturday morning. Romanos indicated that Gadhafi is serious about his protest and intends to continue until he sees change. He refrained from discussing specific details of the case, citing confidentiality.
In a statement, Gadhafi questioned the fairness of his situation, asking, “How can a political prisoner be held without a fair trial all these years?” He expressed that those responsible for his treatment would bear the consequences of his hunger strike, emphasizing the need to free the law from political influence.
Gadhafi is currently held in a Beirut jail, where he reportedly suffers from back pain due to the cramped conditions that have limited his movement and exercise. His detention is linked to the long-standing mystery surrounding the disappearance of prominent Lebanese Shiite cleric Moussa al-Sadr in 1978. Lebanese militants kidnapped Gadhafi, demanding information about al-Sadr, who is believed to be missing in Libya.
Al-Sadr, a significant figure in Lebanese politics and the founder of the Shiite group Amal, vanished while in Tripoli. His family believes he may be alive in a Libyan prison, while many in Lebanon presume he is deceased. The cleric’s disappearance has been a contentious issue, with various theories about his fate often pointing to Moammar Gadhafi’s involvement.
Since the fall of his father’s regime in 2011, Hannibal Gadhafi has faced numerous challenges, ultimately leading to his current detention in Lebanon. His case draws attention to broader questions of justice and the treatment of political prisoners in the region.
