Lebanon orders Hannibal Gadhafi’s release after 10 years

A Lebanese judge has mandated the release of Hannibal Gadhafi, son of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, contingent upon the payment of $11 million bail. Gadhafi has been held in Lebanon for ten years without formal charges.

On Fri, Oct 6, 2023, Hannibal Gadhafi was transported to the Justice Palace in Beirut, where Judge Zaher Hamadeh conducted a session and stipulated his release upon bail payment. Additionally, Gadhafi is prohibited from leaving Lebanon for two months.

His legal representatives have initiated a lawsuit against the Lebanese state in Geneva, citing unlawful detention without trial. This case is anticipated to be reviewed in Switzerland next month.

Gadhafi's legal team, led by Charbel Milad al-Khoury, plans to appeal the bail amount on Mon, Oct 9, 2023, seeking its reduction or annulment due to the unavailability of funds.

Hannibal Gadhafi has been in detention since 2015 following his abduction by Lebanese militants. The militants sought information on the disappearance of Shiite cleric Moussa al-Sadr during a 1978 visit to Libya.

Gadhafi was residing in Syria with his family before being brought to Lebanon. He has been interrogated over the years regarding al-Sadr's disappearance, a matter of significant concern in Lebanon.

Following the 2011 overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi, Hannibal Gadhafi sought asylum in Syria. The Gadhafi family has been dispersed, with some members residing in Algeria, Oman, and Turkey.

Several of Moammar Gadhafi's children played prominent roles in his regime, with some losing their lives during the 2011 conflict.

Based on reporting by Africanews.