Libyan media personality freed after a month in arbitrary detention

Ikram Rajab Al-Saiti, a media figure, has been released after being held for 32 days in a Benghazi prison.

Her detention, condemned as arbitrary by human rights groups, sparked outrage and highlighted the precarious state of freedom of speech in the conflict-ridden nation.

Al-Saiti was seized by the Internal Security Agency (ISA) in Benghazi, which operates under the authority of the eastern-based parallel government, on 18 September.

The arrest followed a complaint lodged by Entisar Abood, the parallel government’s Minister for Women’s Affairs, the nature of which remains shrouded in mystery.

Adding to the injustice, Al-Saiti’s parents were also detained for six days when they attempted to inquire about their daughter’s whereabouts at the ISA headquarters in Benghazi.

The Libyan Crime Watch Organisation and the National Human Rights Committee both confirmed Al-Saiti’s release on Tuesday, along with her parents.

However, the incident has cast a long shadow over press freedom and individual liberties in Libya, where political divisions and armed conflict continue to fuel instability and human rights abuses.

This case echoes the ongoing struggle for basic rights and freedoms in Libya, where arbitrary arrests and detentions remain a persistent concern.

The international community has repeatedly called for all parties in the Libyan conflict to respect human rights and ensure the safety of journalists and media workers.