This is the conclusion of the Human Rights Watch report published early February 2015, documenting violations of the rights of journalists between mi-2012 until November 2014, through testimonies collected both inside and outside Libya. It documents 91 cases of threats, 30 cases of arbitrary detention and kidnapping and 8 killings. This situation has forced many journalists to seek refuge elsewhere.
Salma Cha’ab holds since September 2014 the presidency of the Trade Union of Journalists and Media workers in Tripoli. In Tunis, she tells her story: «I belonged to those who called for the advent of democracy in Libya and to stop armed groups. This put me in danger of losing my life. I received threats through anonymous phone calls. ». She adds: «In disguise, I left Tripoli, without warning or preparation, first to Zintan, then Tunis».
«Now, I long for my life in Libya. I rent alone a house where I live here. It is very costly, specifically as daily life is expensive here in Tunisia. But I have no choice» she says
Call to authorities
«Life in hiding for journalists is very difficult. For a Libyan living in Tunisia, it is difficult to make a living as a journalist. We journalists here are considered as ‘no income’ workers» bitterly admits Cha’ab . this state of things forces «colleagues to seek help and support to the Embassy and Libyan authorities, even if up until now, they only received promises and have been refused support as there are no sufficient resource for assisting anyone» she says. «As to international institutions, they are content to offer journalists moral assistance and to document violations».
«As far as I am concerned, I have not sought help from anybody. I live using what I spared and saved from earlier. And since this is lasting longer, I had to sell my car to pay for the rent and survive» says the trade unionist.
M.W is a Libyan journalist. He asks for anonymity to spare his family from troubles as they live in Benghazi. His family received several threats since he left Libya. Himself, he has been threatened several times before fleeing the country. His name would even figure on the «list of supporters of Kharijites and Muslim Brothers». A list was compiled and published by the group «Operation Dignity» which is directed by the retired general Haftar.
«I felt I was not safe when the group ordered a battalion called ‘managers of blood’ to threaten, hunt down and even liquidate all activists opposed to operation Dignity » M.W. said
M.W has left Benghazi in November 2014 for Tripoli. In the capital city, he would have been housed in a modest hotel for «lack of money. Worst, as my calls were monitored, I could not even call my family who lived in conflict zone » he said, and then he was forced to leave Libya in the hope to earn a living.
Political asylum
Abdel Matloub As-sarhani is a journalist, activist and Human Rights militant in Benghazi. He lives in Tunisia since April 13, 2014. He had to leave Benghazi after an assassination attempt against him. The attempt followed an interview he gave for American television Al Hurra. He then said that «Armed battalion of extremists intend to take control of the whole of Libya».
As-sarhani states: «I have been assaulted in Benghazi, because I covered a demonstration against armed groups. Then my name was with the ‘repent bureau’ of Ansar al-Sharia. One of the members of the repent bureau called me on the phone and offered a deal: you announce with solemnity that you repent and the bureau will guarantee your safe guard. I immediately decided and left Libya ».
He adds: «since then I am in Tunisia. I have no income. I survive on what my family succeeds in sending me from time to time. A short while ago, I met a Tunisian teacher who is housing me for 258 dollars. He teaches me English; that is because I think of immigrating to a Western country. And though I have been initially against emigration, I think it will be ultimately my fate as long as the situation does not improve in Libya».
Threaten lives, difficult exile
S.A is a journalist coming from Benghazi. For security reasons, she prefers to keep anonymous. She lives in Egypt since July 2014, following direct threats against her life she was the correspondent of the satellite channel of an Islamic leader. She saw her reports being criticised for unbalance. An Islamist leader published on his Facebook page a statement which threatened her directly. The statement was shared widely and commented upon. Then her director called her and proposed to offer her a paid vacation in Egypt.
«As I arrive in Egypt with my family, the director called me to inform me I was fired and he advised me against coming back to Libya because I am much looked for by people who seek to liquidate me. Hence I was forced to stay in Egypt with no earlier planning nor preparation » she recalls sadly.
«At the beginning, we first used what we brought with us for the trip. Then we sold my mother’s jewels to survive. It became worst as winter came. And October 2014 was the harshest month of all my life» she added.
«Afterwards, I started looking for a job. Finally an Egyptian media contacted me and offered me a job, and I started a new life as a refugee. I was already tired physically and mentally because of this ordeal; worst, I have contracted a mortal disease which is costing me 1.500 dollars ever week to keep at bay » she adds.
«The worst thing in that story is when I receive bad news such as the successive murders of my colleagues and friends, like for instance my co-worker Miftah Abu Zayd».
Executive Director of the businessmen Association of Libya, Al-Mahdi Abdel-Ati, announces that «Libyan businessmen and their Tunisian counterparts have held a meeting when they discuss refugees issues, specifically the cases of journalists ». Abdel-Ati says” there are individual and non-official contacts with refugee journalists and this topic will be among the priorities of our next meeting».
«The financial side of the problem is also on the agenda e of the International Congress of Businessmen of March 9, 2015 in Brussels. We want to create a crisis response structure for journalists. We seek to pay specific attention to the brave writers and make sure they benefit from socio-economic projects».
