Inside Hannibal Gaddafi’s Cell: Leaked Images Spark Controversy
Watan-The Lebanese channel “Al Jadeed” presented photos of Hannibal, the son of the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, who has been detained by the Lebanese authorities since 2015, inside his cell on the first floor of the “Mains One” building in the Information Branch in Beirut.
The channel stated that Gaddafi’s son’s cell is underground, devoid of sunlight, barely spacious enough for him, with some basic necessities, medicines, and a squat toilet, which sparked widespread controversy.
Leaked photos of Hannibal Gaddafi’s cell showed a narrow space barely a meter in length and width, engulfed in chaos with scattered belongings, including a laptop as seen in the picture.
Another image depicted Hannibal Gaddafi looking more disheveled than usual, wearing two pairs of glasses and earphones, and dressed in traditional Libyan attire.
صور|| عرضتها قناة “الجديد” اللبنانية من داخل زنزانة هانيبال القذافي بالطابق -1 “ماينس وان” بمبنى فرع المعلومات.
القناة قالت إن الزنزانة تحت الأرض ولا ترى ضوء الشمس وبالكاد تتسع له مع بعض الحاجات الصغيرة والأدوية وكرسي حمام أرضي. #ليبيا pic.twitter.com/VOV0vRvozX
— ليبيا برس (@libyapress2010) April 27, 2024
How was access granted to him?
Activists questioned how Al Jadeed channel gained access to Hannibal Gaddafi’s cell and met him, especially since the Information Branch and its facilities are closed and surrounded by complete secrecy. The Minister of Interior cannot oversee its activities or operations unless the branch’s chief decides to inform the Minister of Interior.
In recent months, reports about Hannibal Gaddafi’s conditions inside his cell varied between discussions of his deteriorating health or him enjoying good conditions.
The Ministry of Justice in the Dbeibah government issued a statement condemning the miserable conditions of detaining the Libyan hostage Hannibal Gaddafi in Lebanon and demanding his immediate release.
Recent information suggested that Hannibal receives “special treatment in his solitary confinement,” undergoes cosmetic procedures, and receives constant medical attention.
However, Al Jadeed channel quoted Gaddafi’s son as saying, “I live in degradation, and I challenge you to explain to me where the special treatment is, and what is your concept of VIP?” He continued, “My situation is not good underground, and I need oxygen.”
وزارة العدل بحكومة الدبيبة تستنكر في بيان، الأوضاع المزرية لاحتجاز الرهينة الليبي هانيبال القذافي في لبنان وتُطالب بالإفراج الفوري عنه
البيان: تابعنا ما تناقلته وسائل الاعلام حول الظروف التي يمر بها هانيبال القذافي بدولة لبنان من حيث مكان احتجازه وحرمانه من الحقوق التي تكفلها… pic.twitter.com/oxHNHtGkK7
— ليبيا برس (@libyapress2010) April 28, 2024
Dr. Aisha Gaddafi, Hannibal’s sister, commented on the circulated photos addressing Libyan tribes, saying, “This is the son who secured the Italian apology and restored the dignity of Libyans.” She continued in statements reported by local media, “This is the son who extracted Libyan citizens ‘Al-Magrahi’ and ‘Afghimah’ from America’s grip, and it is shameful that our sons are being tried abroad.”
He has not been tried
In early January last year, social media platforms circulated rumors claiming Hannibal Gaddafi’s death in Lebanese prisons. However, the Lebanese Public Prosecutor, Judge Ghassan Oweidat, stated in press statements at the time that Hannibal is well and in good health.
الصور التي تم نشرها للمواطن الليبي هانيبال القذافي من مكان اعتقاله إن ثبت صحتها ؛ تبعث في النفس مشاعر مؤلمة . إن كان هناك سند قانوني ما , يتم احتجازه من أجله بهذا الشكل ولكل هذه المدة ، فيجب أن يُعطى الفرصة العادلة للمحاكمة بشكل يحفظ له حقوقه وكرامته ، وإلا فليُطلق سراحه فوراً .… pic.twitter.com/JrpWS3vKGx
— Mohammed El-Senoussi (@CPofLibya) April 28, 2024
The heir to the Senussi throne in Libya, Prince Mohammed al-Hassan al-Rida al-Senussi, shared leaked photos of Hannibal Gaddafi on his official account on the X platform, commenting, “If these photos of the Libyan citizen Hannibal Gaddafi from his place of detention are confirmed, they evoke painful feelings. If there is any legal basis for his detention in this manner for all this time, he must be given a fair trial that preserves his rights and dignity, otherwise, he should be released immediately.”
He added, “We reject any form of unjustified detention, torture, humiliation, or disappearance of our citizens wherever they are, whether inside Libya or abroad. Justice and respect are inherent rights for all humans, and the sons of our people are not less than their counterparts from other countries.”
عن أخيها هانيبال .. الدكتورة #عائشة_القذافي مخاطبة القبائل الليبية: هذا ابن الذي انتزع الاعتذار الإيطالي و رد كرامة الليبيين.
_ هذا ابن الذي انتزع المواطنين الليبيين “المقرحي” و “افحيمه” من فك أمريكا و قال من العار أن يحاكم أبنائنا في الخارج.#الجبهة_الشعبية_لتحرير_ليبيا pic.twitter.com/jNRC1RF3we
— الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير ليبيا (@althanyt2) April 28, 2024
After the spread of photos of Hannibal Gaddafi’s cell, Libyans demanded the executive and judicial authorities in their country to take urgent action and work on releasing him, pointing out that the Lebanese authorities “have not tried him or issued a verdict against him, so it is unjust to ignore him and keep him detained.”
