Attacking autonomy: The battle for public freedoms in Libya

The political conditions currently experienced in Libya have led to division and conflict over public freedoms.

Journalists, human rights activists, and bloggers have been subjected to arrest, persecution, death threats, and various forms of torture and humiliation in their detention facilities. This is a consequence of expressing one's opinion and freely discussing Libya's predicament. 

Activists argue this attack on the Libyan people has deprived them of their rights as guaranteed by Libyan law and the constitution. 

This crackdown on expression has coincided with arrest campaigns that target content creators and activists on social media. In recent days, many of them have been imprisoned without any legal justification. Some have been forced into exile. 

"I don't mind paying the price if the next generation can taste the flavour of freedom"

Abdul Salam Buto, a journalist and news presenter at Al-Wasat TV, spoke to The New Arab about his experience. "Personally, I have been subjected to several threats through my social media accounts that attack me for my beliefs," the journalist said. 

"This abuse and harassment has stopped me from entering Libya. Why? Because I am a news anchor, I have used my personal accounts as a platform to defend freedoms in my country. The internal security forces, armed groups in the west, and the leadership of the army in the east are all against me."

Abdul Salam concluded, "Things have got to the point where my employers have told me I am wanted by Libyan authorities and must be handed over for my 'death warrant'  issued in the city of Misrata. The charges against me include atheism and spreading negative ideas about Libyan society."

Libya has also cracked down on religious freedoms under the pretext of combating missionary campaigns. Anyone suspected of converting to another religion or deviating from Islam has been arrested, despite the Libyan constitution guaranteeing freedom of belief. The publication of confessions by detainees is a violation of the law and judicial authorities.

Civil activist Hanan Al-Maqoub argues that the current arrest campaigns are part of a systematic policy to demonise civil society under the pretext of preserving religion and societal values. Security agencies are collaborating with religious authorities, which puts freedoms at risk.

Hanan has experienced three assassination attempts, the first of which was in 2012 when she called for state secularism and the separation of powers. However, religious and military factions do not approve of such demands.

Most recently, Hanan was threatened for writing a social media post that criticised the recent raids in Benghazi where people were evicted from their homes by the military unit, Tariq ibn Ziyad. The military unit is not allowed to do this and is a clear violation of local and civil authority. However, Hanan was silenced. 

"The woman is a walking crime until God takes her from her misery. We, as a civil society, need support to convey our voice and defend our rights"

Women have also suffered greatly. Over the past eleven years, many activists, human rights advocates, politicians, and journalists have been killed.

Even the tribal community, which is considered the social cover, has remained silent. Some women were killed in their homes in front of their husbands, while others were killed on the streets, without mentioning crimes committed in the name of honour, rape, and unspoken violence.

Rights activist Inas Ali explained to The New Arab that feminists are demonised and vilified under the pretext of religion, using social media as a tool.

Libyan society does not welcome women's involvement in political or economic work. Even if a woman does participate, she is controlled by a corrupt system that forces her to comply.

If she dares to demand her rights, she is shamed. False accusations of moral decay, atheism, and espionage are levelled against her. Personally, my social media accounts have been hacked, and I have received multiple threats.

Women's work in Libya is still in its early stages. It will take years to reach genuine feminist awareness. According to a recent travel document issued by the Central Security Agency in Tripoli, every woman travelling alone now has to fill out a form that indicates their reason for travel, destination and whether she has travelled alone before. This, again, is a clear violation of the freedom of movement guaranteed by the Libyan Constitution.

Libya, known for its moderation and centrism, has witnessed a narrowing and restriction of public freedoms over the past decade under the guise of monitoring and holding accountable what they call religious and moral deviations.

Recently, the General Authority for Endowments and Islamic Affairs in Tripoli issued a decision for the "Guardians of Virtue" program, which is considered the first of its kind to be issued by a government body.

The statement mentioned that their goal is to purify society and protect it from vices, obscenities, deviations, myths, and atheism. 

Violations of human rights and freedom of expression in Libya are not limited to civil activists and journalists but extend to the judicial system as well.

Salah Balthamer, a counsellor at the General Judiciary Authority, states that there is a general disregard for the law and the appropriation of institutional decisions for personal gain.

"In my capacity, I refuse to endorse any administrative, legal, or criminal violation. As a result, I have been kidnapped and tortured three times, with the most recent incident occurring last month (March). After leaving a television interview, I was abducted, beaten, tortured, and threatened with murder and rape by the Salafist Battalion 155, affiliated with Haftar's forces. I somehow managed to escape from them."

In a pained voice, Balthamer asserts that the February Revolution aimed to grant citizens some relative freedom. However, the current situation constitutes a violation and restriction of liberties. This criminal behaviour must be deterred, and the international community should deter these transgressions by implementing strict punitive laws against all criminals and armed groups in Libya who have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Samira Elsaidi is a freelance journalist who has worked for Al-Arabi TV, Middle East Eye, al-Quds al Arabi, al-Shams newspaper and other international outlets