An armed group released political activist Al-Mutassim Al-Araibi two days after he was kidnapped in Misrata. Social media circulated news of his release after a widespread campaign of condemnations and demands to reveal his whereabouts.
This incident sparked a wave of denunciation and condemnation, the latest of which came from the French embassy, which demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Al-Araibi, calling for the release of all those arbitrarily detained in Libya.
Both the US Embassy and the United Nations Mission have previously expressed their deep concern about the kidnapping of Al-Araibi, calling on the concerned authorities in the city to open an urgent investigation into the incident.
The UN mission also called for all those responsible for kidnappings and arbitrary detention to be held accountable and to avoid impunity, noting that the arrests created a climate of fear and sidelined the rule of law.
The UN statement came in support of the statement of Misrata dignitaries and the municipal council, which denounced the kidnapping and called on the security authorities to make an effort to find and prosecute the perpetrators.
Activist Al-Araibi was kidnapped by an armed group wearing civilian clothes, along with Mohammed Ishtewi, in the city of Misrata on June 8, and the latter was beaten and tortured before he was released.
