UN in Libya urges probe into death of detained activist

Siraj Dughman died while in custody at Rajma military camp in Rajma town

By Reuters
April 22, 2024
Abdoulaye Bathily, UN Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), gives a press conference in Tripoli. — AFP/File
Abdoulaye Bathily, UN Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), gives a press conference in Tripoli. — AFP/File

TRIPOLI: The United Nations Libya mission (UNSMIL) urged authorities in the eastern-ruled part of the country to investigate the death of an activist who had been in detention since last year.

Siraj Dughman died while in custody at Rajma military camp in Rajma town, about 27 km (17 miles) east of Benghazi, UNSMIL said on social media platform X.

The mission said it was “deeply saddened” and called on authorities to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into his death.

Benghazi’s Internal Security Agency said in a video statement that Dughman died after he fell on his head while climbing sewage pipes in an attempt to escape from a bathroom window on Friday morning.