The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is urging for a comprehensive investigation into the suspicious death of activist Siraj Dughman. Dughman passed away while being held in detention at Rajma military camp near Benghazi. He had been in custody since last year, and his death has sparked concerns about the conditions and legality of detentions in the area.
The Benghazi Internal Security Agency reported the death of Dughman. They claimed that he died while trying to escape through a bathroom window and accidentally falling on his head. Dughman was detained on charges related to meetings that discussed the potential overthrow of political bodies and the military, according to the security agency.
This event highlights the current instability in Libya, which has been in a state of conflict since the NATO-backed uprising of 2011 that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi. In 2014, the country divided into two administrations in the east and west, each backed by different international actors and militias.
UNSMIL expressed deep sadness over the death of Dughman and emphasized that he, along with four other detainees, was arbitrarily arrested without formal charges or court appearances in 2023. The mission’s statement on the social media platform X highlighted the need for transparency and independence in the investigation into his death, reflecting ongoing international concerns about human rights abuses in Libya.
The call for an investigation into Dughman’s death coincides with broader concerns about the increasing incidents of abductions, disappearances, and arbitrary arrests across Libya. These concerns were noted by the U.N. envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, in a briefing to the U.N. Security Council. Bathily also announced his resignation, citing “stubborn resistance, unreasonable expectations, and indifference to the interests of the Libyan people” as barriers to his mediation efforts.
The situation in Libya is still unstable with worsening human rights and security conditions due to political fragmentation. The recent death of Siraj Dughman is a reminder of the risks faced by activists and political detainees, and it also highlights the broader challenges of governance and law enforcement in Libya.
