- Update info:
- 3 Aug 2017 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 23 May 2017
- Country:
- SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
- Subject:
- Salem Mohamed Beitelmal
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 3 Sep 2017
- Distribution date:
- 23 May 2017
- UA No:
- 109/2017
On 20 April, University professor and father of four Dr Salem Mohamed Beitelmal was kidnapped by local militias on the outskirts of Tripoli. His fate and whereabouts remain unknown as the family has not been able to reach him since.
On the morning of 20 April, Dr Salem Mohamed Beitelmal was driving to the University of Tripoli, around 20 minutes' drive from his house, when he was abducted. Dr Salem Beitelmal is an engineering professor at the Department of Maritime Engineering and used to drive to work every day. However, he never made it that day. At around 10 am, the neighbours found his abandoned car and phone in a street not far from his home in Siyyad area, on the outskirts of Tripoli. The neighbours searched the car and the surroundings but could not find any trace of him and called the family to inform them that Dr Salem Beitelmal had gone missing.
The area where the abduction took place is under the control of several militias. Some of these militias operate nominally under the authority of the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence of the UN recognised Government of National Accord. Other militias are seemingly affiliated to either of the three factions struggling to gain power in the country. Following the abduction of Dr Salem Beitelmal, his family has tried relentlessly to identify his whereabouts by contacting the relevant authorities on the ground. However, all these attempts were unsuccessful. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and the family is still seeking to identify which militia is holding him.
Dr Salem Beitelmal, who is 68 year old, suffers from pre-existing health condition and requires continued medication. His family is concerned for his health and security.
A close family member told Amnesty International: ‘’Our concern is for his health and safety. We call on all parties to act immediately and place all necessary pressure to ensure his quick and safe return to his family’’.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dr Salem Beitelmal has been a lecturer at the University of Tripoli for over 20 years. As an engineer Dr Salem Beitelmal has worked extensively to help build the country while teaching new generations of engineers. Dr Salem Beitelmal is a longstanding member of the Union of Faculty Members. He is a well-loved professor amongst the students and a much appreciated academic within the faculty.
Libyan activists and journalists alike have identified abductions as one of the most harrowing realities of daily life in Libya today. According to media reports citing the Tripoli Criminal Investigations department of the Ministry of Interior there were at least 293 abductions between 15 December 2016 and 31 January 2017. Most abductions are carried out with the aim of extracting as high a ransom as possible from the families, or in some cases to negotiate an exchange of detainees. Abductions are also used as a tactic by militias to silence opponents, journalists, and human rights defenders who are critical of them.
Individuals have been targeted based on their perceived political or tribal affiliations or their occupation or apparent wealth, in order to extract sensitive information or hefty ransom sums. Rival armed groups and militias in Libya have been carrying out gross human rights abuses with near total impunity. Even those operating under the UN-backed government affiliated to the Ministry of Defence or under nominal control of the Ministry of Interior are not subjected to any effective supervision or control by the central authorities.
Under article 1 of the Libyan law No. 10 [2013] on the Criminalization of Torture, Enforced Disappearances and Discrimination, enforced disappearances are punishable with up to eight years in prison.
UA: 109/17 Index: MDE 19/6233/2017 Issue Date: 16 May 2017
- Update info:
- 3 Aug 2017 (Suspended)
- Latest info:
- 23 May 2017
- Country:
- SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
- Subject:
- Dr. Salem Mohamed Beitelmal
Gender m/f: m
- Period:
- 3 Sep 2017
- Distribution date:
- 3 Aug 2017
- UA No:
- 109/2017
University professor Dr Salem Mohamed Beitelmal was released on 6 June. He had been abducted by local militias on the outskirts of Tripoli since 20 April. He has now returned home and joined his family.
Dr Salem Mohamed Beitelmal was released on 6 June at around 6 pm. A relative and a friend of his picked him up at Weshfana, south west of Tripoli, where he was left alone. During his 47 days of abduction, Dr Salem Beitelmal was held in one room alone but part of a larger house. During his abduction, he was given one meal per day which consisted of a small loaf of bread, cheese, a 1 litre water bottle and a small packet of fruit juice. In addition, during the holy month of Ramadan, Dr Salem Beitelmal was given a date. He didn't have access to his medication on a daily basis. In order to manage his diabetes, he had to limit his food intake due to his lack of medication on those days. As a result, Dr. Salem Beitelmal has lost 30 kilos. Since his return, he has undergone a full medical check. Fortunately, and despite the harsh conditions and extreme weight loss, he is progressively recovering in good health. He has now returned home to his family.
On the morning of 20 April, the engineering professor at the Department of Maritime Engineering at the University of Tripoli was driving to work when he was abducted by local militias, in Siyyad area, on the outskirts of western Tripoli. Several minutes after leaving the house, a pickup truck came out from a hidden place on the other side of the road and cut him off. Dr Salem Beitelmal got out of his car to ask why he was prevented from continuing his journey. At that moment, four armed men with covered faces got out of the pickup truck, grabbed Dr Salem Beitelmal and placed him in the back seat of the car with his face down before leaving the place. Shortly after, the car stopped and he was told to get out of it. He was then placed in a room and forced to wait. The following day, several masked men covered Dr Salem Beitelmal's head with a black cloth, told him to keep his head down and put him in a car before driving off. He was then taken to a second unknown location where he remained for the rest of his abduction period.
A close family member told Amnesty International: ‘‘We thank you all for your actions. We believe that it is the mobilization and the actions taken that kept Dr Salem Beitelmal alive''.
Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.
This is the first update of UA 109//17. Further information: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde19/6233/2017/en/
Further information on UA: 109//17 Index: MDE 19/6503/2017 Issue Date: 27 July 2017