Libya: HRW Reports 31 Executions in East, Warns of 50 More at Risk
Libya: HRW Reports 31 Executions in East, Warns of 50 More at Risk
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) says at least 31 people have been executed in eastern Libya since late August 2026 following military trials that allegedly lacked fair-trial safeguards. The organization warned that at least 50 other detainees at Qarnada military prison face the risk of imminent execution.
In a report published on October 14, HRW said some convictions followed secret proceedings and were based on confessions allegedly obtained through torture. It also criticized the trial of civilians before military courts, noting that Libya’s Supreme Court had previously ruled against such proceedings.
Bassem Khawaja, HRW’s deputy Middle East and North Africa director, called for an immediate halt to executions and a suspension of the death penalty, warning that carrying out such sentences under these circumstances could result in irreversible miscarriages of justice.
The reported executions come amid continuing political and security divisions in Libya. Authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of the report.
