Legal Developments
A Lebanese judge has mandated the release of Hannibal Gadhafi, son of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, contingent on a bail payment of $11 million. Hannibal Gadhafi has been detained in Lebanon for a decade without formal charges.
Conditions of Release
The release order specifies that Gadhafi will be prohibited from leaving Lebanon for two months post-release. This decision follows concerns raised by his legal team regarding his health, as he had been on a hunger strike protesting his detention without trial.
Legal Proceedings
Gadhafi’s defense team has initiated legal action against the Lebanese state in Geneva, arguing unlawful detention. The case is scheduled for discussion in Switzerland next month. His lawyers have expressed that Gadhafi lacks the financial means to meet the bail requirement and plan to appeal for its removal.
Background
Hannibal Gadhafi was abducted in 2015 by Lebanese militants seeking information on the missing Lebanese Shiite cleric, Moussa al-Sadr. Following his abduction, he was detained by Lebanese authorities. Gadhafi has been questioned regarding al-Sadr’s disappearance in 1978 during a visit to Libya.
Political Context
Moammar Gadhafi, who ruled Libya for over four decades, was deposed and killed in 2011. Hannibal Gadhafi initially fled to Algeria and later moved to Syria, where he received political asylum until his abduction.
Moammar Gadhafi had eight children, many of whom held significant roles in his government. Following the Libyan uprising, several of his children met various fates, including death, detention, and exile.
