Hannibal Gaddafi Released From Lebanese Detention After 10 Years

Hannibal Gaddafi, the youngest son of former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, was released from detention in Lebanon today after nearly a decade held without trial.

Lebanese authorities seized Mr. Gaddafi in 2015, alleging he concealed information regarding the 1978 disappearance of Lebanese Shia cleric Musa al-Sadr in Libya. Human rights groups widely criticized the accusations against him. His lawyer, Laurent Bayon, confirmed to AFP that the $900,000 bail had been paid, stating, “It’s the end of a nightmare for him that lasted 10 years.” A judge initially set bail at $11 million in October, but the amount was reduced following an appeal from the defense team last week.

Mr. Bayon indicated his client would depart Lebanon for a currently undisclosed location. He also criticized the Lebanese justice system, asserting, “If Gaddafi was able to be arbitrarily detained in Lebanon for 10 years, it’s because the justice system was not independent.” The case has long been a point of contention between Libya and Lebanon, with al-Sadr’s disappearance remaining unresolved for decades. Human Rights Watch has documented concerns regarding due process in Lebanon’s legal system.

Prior to his father’s overthrow and death in 2011, Hannibal Gaddafi was known for a lavish lifestyle, and briefly fled to Syria before living under house arrest in Oman with his wife, Aline Skaf. He was previously abducted by an armed group in Lebanon in 2015 before being taken into official custody. This release could potentially impact ongoing diplomatic relations between Libya and Lebanon, which have been strained by the al-Sadr case for years. Al Jazeera provides further background on the case.

Authorities have not yet commented on potential future legal proceedings or investigations related to the original allegations.