Leaked photographs of Hannibal Gadhafi, the son of the late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, have emerged, showing the tiny underground cell in Lebanon where he has been held for years. The photos reveal a room without natural light filled with Gadhafi’s personal belongings, a bed, and a small toilet. Gadhafi, who is described as a political prisoner, has expressed feelings of misery and lack of information regarding his case. Libyan authorities have demanded improvements to his living conditions in Lebanon.
Libyan officials have formally requested that Lebanon release Hannibal Gadhafi due to his deteriorating health. The photographs aired by Al-Jadeed TV show Gadhafi in the cell where he has been held at police headquarters in Beirut since 2015. Although he appeared healthy in the images, with a light beard and glasses, concerns have been raised about his well-being. Sources close to Gadhafi confirmed that the photos were recent and expressed worries about his situation.
Hannibal Gadhafi was kidnapped from Syria in 2015 by Lebanese militants seeking information about the missing Lebanese Shiite cleric Moussa al-Sadr, who disappeared in 1978 during a trip to Libya. Al-Sadr’s fate remains a contentious issue in Lebanon, with his family holding out hope that he may still be alive. Talks between Libya and Lebanon in January aimed to address the cases of al-Sadr and Gadhafi under a previous cooperation agreement from 2014, but the negotiations did not proceed as planned.
Reports of special treatment and cosmetic surgeries for Gadhafi at the police headquarters led to further scrutiny of his conditions. Allegations of hair transplants and teeth improvements raised questions about his treatment compared to other detainees. Gadhafi’s hunger strike last year and subsequent hospitalization underscored concerns about his well-being, leading the Libyan Justice Ministry to demand improved living conditions and ultimately his release.
After being initially freed following his kidnapping, Hannibal Gadhafi was detained in Lebanon for allegedly withholding information about al-Sadr’s disappearance. Al-Sadr, a prominent figure in Lebanon who founded the Amal group, has been missing since 1978, with suspicions that Moammar Gadhafi may have been involved in his disappearance. The political implications of the case have added complexity to the situation, with human rights organizations calling for Hannibal Gadhafi’s release based on his young age at the time of al-Sadr’s disappearance and his lack of significant influence in Libya as an adult.
The ongoing saga involving Hannibal Gadhafi, his detention in Lebanon, and the unresolved case of Moussa al-Sadr highlights the complex history and political tensions in the region. Concerns about Gadhafi’s well-being, allegations of mistreatment, and demands for his release have added to the challenges facing both Libyan and Lebanese authorities. The aftermath of the Arab Spring and the fall of the Gadhafi regime in Libya continue to reverberate, affecting individuals like Hannibal Gadhafi caught in the crossfire of historical disputes and political rivalries.
