Leaked videos show ‘Systematic Torture’ inside Garnada prison

Recent video footage allegedly showing incidents within Libya’s Garnada Prison has prompted international concern over reported human rights violations.

The recordings, which began circulating on social media platforms this month, purportedly show incidents of detainee mistreatment in the facility controlled by forces aligned with Khalifa Haftar.

According to human rights monitors who have reviewed the footage, the videos appear to document various forms of physical abuse. The authenticity of the footage is currently under independent verification by international human rights organisations.

Multiple former detainees from Garnada Prison have provided testimony to human rights organisations, alleging systematic abuse including electric shock torture and sleep deprivation. These accounts describe what they claim to be deliberate denial of basic necessities, reportedly leading to severe health deterioration among inmates.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has previously documented concerns about the facility, which reportedly houses political detainees. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have consistently raised alarms about conditions in detention facilities across eastern Libya in their annual reports.

When contacted for comment, authorities in eastern Libya have not yet responded to these allegations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an immediate, independent investigation into the claims.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which monitors detention conditions worldwide, continues to seek regular access to all detention facilities in Libya, including Garnada Prison.