CPJ demands safe and immediate release of Libya journalist News
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CPJ demands safe and immediate release of Libya journalist

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) asked the Libyan government on Friday to release television host Ahmed al-Sanussi from detention. The organization denounced al-Sanussi’s arrest, which occurred the previous day in Tripoli, expressing concern that his place of detention and reason for arrest were still unknown.

CPJ’s Interim MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Program Coordinator Yeganeh Rezaian stated:

It is unacceptable that authorities have not disclosed where he is being held or the reason for his arrest … Authorities must immediately and unconditionally free al-Sanussi and ensure he is returned home safely.

The al-Sanussi family lost contact with the Libyan television host after he left his apartment for work on Thursday afternoon, according to local media. Libyan media also reported that the country’s Internal Security Agency in Tripoli allegedly arrested al-Sanussi that same day.

Ahmed al-Sanussi is the owner of an economic news website named Sada and the host of the program Flusna, which is telecast on the Al-Wasat TV (WTV) channel. The arrest of al-Sanussi was made shortly after he pointed out alleged corruption within the Ministry of Economy and Trade of the Government of National Unity along with its minister Mohamed Al-Hwaij. 

The country’s independent media, which was non-existent during the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, came into being after the 2011 uprising that toppled the dictatorship regime of the country. More than a decade after the democratic struggle by the country, however, it is still struggling with political instability and influential Libyan militias.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has highlighted the vulnerable situation for journalists in Libya, documenting “at least 91 cases of threats and assaults against journalists, including against at least 14 female journalists and media workers” between mid-2012 and November 2014.

Reporters Without Borders also ranked Libya 143rd out of 180 on its 2024 media index, calling the country “a true information black hole.” The organization further stated that there are no laws in Libya that guarantee freedom of expression, journalists’ safety or the right to reliable information.

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