LCFP
Libya’s media sector is still constrained by outdated laws limiting freedom of expression and the press.

Libya’s media sector is still constrained by outdated laws limiting freedom of expression and the press.

May 2, 2025

Libya: Protect press freedom and support media reforms 

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, we, the undersigned human rights, express our deep concern regarding the deteriorating state of media freedom in Libya. The country’s media sector remains governed by an outdated and fragmented legal framework,  which undermines press freedom and freedom of expression. The repeated changes to the regulatory structure – through government decrees issued both in Tripoli and Benghazi, often without consultation with journalists and civil society – have further contributed to an unpredictable and repressive media environment. We urge the Libyan authorities to cooperate, consult and engage in dialogue with civil society and media workers to develop and adopt comprehensive media reforms that comply with Libya’s international human rights obligations.

A fragmented legal and regulatory framework

More than a decade after the uprising against the decades-long rule of Muammar al-Qaddafi, the legal framework governing freedom of expression and the media remains outdated and incoherent. The primary legislation – the Press and Publication Law – dates back to 1972, during Muammar Gaddafi’s rule, and applies only to print media. This law is punitive in nature, imposing licensing systems and prior censorship that grant the state broad discretionary powers to approve or deny licences, thereby restricting freedom of expression and media operations. Articles 9 and 10 require media outlets to obtain prior approval from the Publications Department to operate, and impose a prison sentence of no less than six months on anyone working without a press card or licence.

In the absence of a comprehensive legal framework that safeguards press and media freedom, other repressive laws from the Gaddafi era remain in effect and continue to be used to silence dissent and restrict journalists’ work. These include the 1953 Penal Code and its amendments , the Anti-Terrorism Law No. 3 of 2014, Law No. 5 of 2014  and Law No. 4 of 2017 amending the Military Penal and Procedures Codes. Newer legislation, such as the controversial Law No. 5 of 2022 on combating cybercrimes, has only exacerbated the repressive media environment. These laws stand in direct contradiction to Libya’s 2011 Constitutional Declaration and its amendments , which guarantees freedom of expression and media freedom, as well as to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Libya is a state party.

In recent years, various government decrees have shaped Libya’s media landscape and regulated the media sector, primarily due to the absence of cohesive legislation and a comprehensive regulatory framework. In June 2024, the Ministerial Council issued decree No. 307 of 2024, establishing the National Media Institution. This decree effectively revived the previous Libyan Media Institution, which was established in 2020 (decree No. 597 ) but dissolved by  2021 (decree No. 116).

The Libyan Media Institution has faced criticism in recent years, with human rights organisations recommending reforms to its legal status and the formation of a board of directors that demonstrates independence, professionalism, and integrity. However, it was dissolved and the oversight for public media outlets was transferred to six ministries and agencies – including the Council of Ministers – prior to its re-integration into the Radio and Television network following decree 1004 of  2022. Human rights organisations argued that this move would result in increased government control over public media and interference in media editorship and content, thereby violating media freedom and independence. The decree marks a further escalation in the ongoing institutional fragmentation , particularly following the establishment of the ‘Libyan Media Foundation ‘ by the eastern-based government in June 2023.

While the re-establishment of a National Media Institution may seem like a step forward in an environment marked by the lack of a unified regulatory body and characterised by fragmented press unions, concerns persist regarding its alignment with international freedom of expression standards. Notably, the decree was issued without consulting key stakeholders, including journalists and civil society, despite the National Unity Government’s commitment under circular No. 8 of 2021 to involve professional unions and civil society organisations in shaping media sector policies.

The decree consolidates several public media entities, including media outlets, under the authority of the National Media Institution. It also includes the General Authority for Monitoring Media Content, which is responsible for monitoring professional violations in media discourse. Additionally, it incorporates government bodies established by the National Unity Government, later merged into the National Media Institution, such as the Media Support Fund, the Audiovisual Authority, and a wide network of public radio stations.

It is concerning that the institution’s leadership – including its head and deputy – are directly appointed by the Prime Minister, raising significant concerns about the institution’s independence from the executive branch and appointments being political rather than in the public interest. This increases the risk of government control over public media and interference in editorial decisions. International standards require that the process of appointing members of regulatory bodies be free from political interference and economic interests. However, the decree fails to establish an appointment process that ensures pluralism and transparency in accordance with said international standards. The institution’s broad power to issue licences and permits, coupled with its lack of independence, constitute a serious risk for press freedom.  

Journalists continue to face assaults, arbitrary arrests, and detention

Journalists in Libya continue to face various forms of violations, including assaults and restrictions, for over a decade now, amid the ongoing deterioration of press freedom. On 31 October, 2024, journalist Mohamed Surait, editor-in-chief of Al-Hayat Al-Libya newspaper in Benghazi, was subjected to enforced disappearance for 20 days due to a Facebook post in which he criticised public conditions. The Internal Security Agency later released him in the eastern region of the country. On 11 July, 2024, the same agency arrested journalist Ahmed Al-Sanousi, director of Al-Sada Economic newspaper, in Tripoli following a complaint filed by the Minister of Economy and Trade for the Government of National Unity. The arrest was linked to documents Al-Sanousi published regarding corruption cases within the Ministry of Economy and Trade of the Interim Government of National Unity.

In a broader context, journalists continue to be tried before military courts. In May 2020, a military court in Benghazi sentenced photojournalist and activist Ismail Bouzreeba Al-Zway. to 15 years in prison on terrorism-related charges. The conviction was based on content found on his phone, including messages critical of the General Command of the Libyan Army and Operation Dignity. Internal Security forces arrested Al-Zway in Ajdabiya in December 2018 and released him in September 2021.

More recently, journalist Salehin Al-Zarwali has been detained since May 2024 over Facebook posts critical of the authorities. He is currently being tried by a military court in Benghazi and first appeared before the court on 13 March, 2025, after repeated delays. His lawyers have had only limited access to his case files. 

Need to support media reforms in consultation with civil society

The ongoing political divisions in Libya, compounded by a fragmented and heavily politicised media landscape, have left journalists increasingly exposed to threats, harassment, and arbitrary arrests. Media outlets operate under constant risk of censorship and sudden closure, severely restricting Libyans’ access to pluralistic and independent sources of information – an essential pillar of democratic governance.

A free and independent media is crucial for fostering accountability, encouraging civic engagement, and supporting Libya’s journey toward stability and democracy. On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, the undersigned organisations urge the Libyan Parliament to prioritise engagement with civil society, journalists, and media professionals in the development of comprehensive media reforms. These reforms must guarantee the independence of the media sector from executive interference and ensure alignment with Libya’s international human rights obligations.

It is urgent that a new media reform process be adopted through a transparent and consultative process involving journalists, media organisations, and civil society actors. For years, local civil society has been advocating for legislation that protects press freedom and upholds international standards of media independence, pluralism, and journalist safety. Since 2018, efforts have been made to replace the outdated 1972 Press and Publication Law. Civil society groups have developed a draft media law and campaigned for its implementation in the face of ongoing political inertia. In 2022, the Libyan Organization for Independent Media drafted a media regulation bill with contributions from legal experts, journalists, academics, and civil society representatives. The bill was discussed in 2024 during dialogue sessions with both the High Council of State (HCS) and the House of Representatives (HoR). ARTICLE 19 has analysed the draft and, while recognising several positive provisions, we believe further revisions are necessary to ensure full alignment with international standards.

We therefore call on the Libyan authorities to take the following steps:

  • Repeal Law No. 76 of 1972 on Publications and adopt a new, comprehensive media law developed in consultation with civil society, journalists, press unions, and other stakeholders.
  • Establish an independent regulatory authority to oversee and reform the audiovisual media sector, ensuring it has institutional, administrative, and financial autonomy.
  • Review and reform the broader legal framework on freedom of expression, including the repeal of all Penal Code provisions that criminalise peaceful expression, Cybercrime Law No. 5 of 2022, and Anti-Terrorism Law No. 3 of 2014, to ensure full compliance with Libya’s international human rights obligations.
  • Adopt a law guaranteeing the right to access information, which is a cornerstone of transparency, accountability, and the broader promotion of freedom of expression.
  • Establish independent mechanisms to investigate attacks against journalists and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
  • Support training programmes for lawyers and judges on journalists’ rights and freedom of expression, including collaboration with civil society initiatives, to ensure justice in cases related to the press.

Signatory Organizations

  • The Libyan Organization for Independent Media
  •  The Libyan Center for Press Freedom
  • Rabssa Media and Culture Group
  • Aswat Network
  • Article 19 
  • Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
  • Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL)
  • SMEX

Stop the crackdown on NGOs supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers

Stop the crackdown on NGOs supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers

Apr 26, 2025

The undersigned organizations strongly condemn the Libyan authorities’ latest crackdown on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their staff, solely for providing humanitarian assistance to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya.

On 2 April 2025, the Tripoli-based Internal Security Agency (ISA), affiliated with the Libyan Presidential Council, announced the “closure of the headquarters” of ten international NGOs supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya. The ISA cited the NGOs’ alleged involvement in “hostile activities” and accused them of conspiring to “settle illegal migrants of African origin in Libya”, a plan it labelled “a hostile act aimed at altering the country’s demographic composition and posing a threat to Libyan society.” The ISA also claimed that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was “implicated in these crimes” and announced it would take “deterrent measures” against it. The ISA further accused the NGOs of promoting “atheism, Christianism, homosexuality and immorality”.

These NGOs provide critical services aimed at safeguarding the right to life, food, housing and health—essential human rights that the Libyan authorities currently struggle to guarantee, particularly for people on the move requiring life-saving humanitarian assistance.

The latest clampdown against NGOs and civil society more broadly did not arise in a vacuum. In March 2025, following a misinformation campaign on social media claiming that the Government of National Unity (GNU) had agreed to resettle migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in the country, Libya witnessed a surge in arbitrary arrests of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. This was also followed by raids by “security forces affiliated with the Ministry of Interior” in several cities, including Tripoli, Misrata and Sabratha, according to Libya Crimes Watch (LCW). The spate of arrests coincided with violent attacks and repeated instances of hate speech inciting racial discrimination and violence against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya. 

The signatory organizations condemn the ISA’s unfounded allegations against the impacted NGOs. The ISA’s groundless accusations exacerbate existing xenophobic sentiments and represent a deliberate tactic of scapegoating, especially of Black migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, for Libya’s underlying political and institutional crises. The Libyan authorities’ inflammatory rhetoric not only fuels fear and hostility, but also endangers migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and those working to protect their human rights.

“What we are witnessing is not a series of isolated violations, but a continuous, coordinated and systematic campaign of repression, led by the ISA with the backing and cover of the government, aimed at dismantling civil society and obstructing the work of international humanitarian organizations in Libya. The Libyan authorities bear direct responsibility for this repressive campaign and must be held accountable. The forced closure of these organizations will only exacerbate the already deteriorating humanitarian conditions faced by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers,” said Ali Omar, Director of Libya Crimes Watch.

Moreover, the Libyan authorities, both in the West and East, have repeatedly used bogus security charges to silence activists and independent NGOs, and they have also relied on an unduly restrictive domestic legal framework to clamp down on civil society organizations. By now treating humanitarian NGOs as enemies of the State, the ISA is extinguishing the last vestiges of civic space in Libya.

The Libyan authorities are obligated under international human rights law, as well as Libya’s Interim Constitutional Declaration, to guarantee the right to freedom of association, including by refraining from criminalizing legitimate humanitarian efforts and threatening activists. 

The undersigned organizations urgently call on the Libyan authorities, especially the ISA and the GNU, to:

  • End all forms of intimidation and harassment targeting staff of humanitarian and civil society organizations across Libya; 
  • Ensure that all NGOs and humanitarian actors are able to operate freely, safely, and in line with international legal standards, without fear of reprisal;    
  • Take immediate steps to end hate speech and incitement to racial discrimination and violence, and to ensure the protection of the human rights, dignity and safety of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya.

Signatories

African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)

Borderline Europe

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

Ensaf Organization for Rights and Freedoms

EuroMed Rights

International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL)

Libya Crimes Watch (LCW)

Libyan Center for Freedom of Press

World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders

People In Need (PIN)

The Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP)condemns the incident of the arrest of Al-Sanoussi

The Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP)condemns the incident of the arrest of Al-Sanoussi

Jul 11, 2024

Press Release

For Immediate Release

The Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP)condemns the incident of the arrest of Al-Sanoussi, and demands the cessation of the pursuit of Sada journalists for publishing documents exposing corruption in the government in Tripoli.

The LCFP expresses its grave concern over the information received regarding the arbitrary arrest that targeted the journalist Ahmed Al-Sanoussi, editor-in-chief of the economic newspaper Sada, in Tripoli on Thursday, July 11, and his detention in one of the headquarters of the Internal Security Apparatus affiliated with the Government of National Unity, according to his relatives.

Tripoli – July 11 / The LCFP team calls on the Office of the Attorney General and the authorities of the Presidential Council and the Prime Minister’s Office of the Government of National Unity to act immediately and urgently to release Al-Sanoussi, and to refrain from intimidating and pursuing the journalists of the economic newspaper Sada merely for publishing documents revealing the scale of corruption in government institutions.

In an unprecedented step, the leadership of the Ministry of Economy in Tripoli threatened the journalists of the Sada economic newspaper website and warned of pursuing them for security reasons, following their publication of documents revealing the scale of corruption, administrative and financial violations in the Ministry of Economy of the Government of National Unity, chief among them the violations committed by the Minister of Economy, Mohamed Al-Hweij. Some of these documents were issued by the Audit Bureau and the Administrative Control Authority.

The team of the Iqtisadiah Echo newspaper was subjected to threats, intimidation, and prevented from carrying out their work or entering the headquarters of the Ministry of Economy in Tripoli. In addition, the editor-in-chief, Inam Azuz, received numerous phone calls from ministry officials questioning her and pressuring her to reveal her journalistic sources and how she obtained the documents that the journalist published, which prove the violations and corruption in the mentioned ministry.

The editor-in-chief, Inam Azuz, received a phone call on Thursday, July 4, from a “female officer” claiming to be from the Internal Security Agency, stating that she has a summons for an investigation at the Internal Security Office regarding what was published in the Iqtisadiah Echo newspaper on the previous Saturday, July 6. This was rejected by the editor-in-chief, Ahmed Al-Sanusi, who informed her that as the editor-in-chief and the legal representative of the newspaper, there is no official summons from the Press Prosecution Office at the Attorney General’s Office.

As a result, the journalist Azuz received 11 phone calls from the same “female officer” pressuring her to comply with the alleged investigation on Saturday, July 6. The harassment and attempts to restrict and threaten the Iqtisadiah Echo newspaper and its editor-in-chief Inam Azuz with legal action continued, as she did not reveal her sources in obtaining the documents that confirm the violations and corruption at the Ministry of Economy.

As published on his verified Facebook page, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Al-Saada Al-Iqtisadi, Ahmed Al-Senussi (before his arbitrary arrest), shared a video that explains the threats received by his team, at the behest of the Minister of Economy, Muhammad Al-Huwaij, from the Internal Security Agency to arrest Al-Saada journalists in order to pressure them to reveal their journalistic sources. According to Al-Senussi’s claims, the Minister Al-Huwaij later retracted his statements.

LCFP renews its call to the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdel Hamid Al-Dabaiba, to fulfill his commitments announced in Circular No. 8 of 2021 regarding the pledge to enhance press and media freedom and the right of access to information. Al-Dabaiba had repeatedly affirmed that he would allow greater openness towards journalists and facilitate their work and movements, which has not been implemented so far, as confirmed by many events and facts.

We demand the necessity of stopping all arbitrary measures and attempts at censorship and threatening journalists who publish documents that reveal the extent of entrenched corruption in Libyan state sectors, as well as attempts to intimidate them through arbitrary arrests and restrictions by the security agencies, which have not ceased their interference in the work of journalists and their attempts to impose control over the publication of documents and information.