Libya jails 11 in unfair trial over alleged Christianity links

TRIPOLI – Libyan authorities must overturn prison terms handed to 10 Libyans and one Pakistani national convicted solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of thought, Amnesty International said Tuesday, denouncing what it called a grossly unfair trial.

On April 15, a Tripoli court sentenced nine Libyan men, one Libyan woman and the Pakistani man to terms ranging from three to 15 years. Charges included “insulting Islam,” “insulting religious sanctities and rituals using the internet” and “calling for the establishment of a banned group.”

The case stems from March 2023, when a member of the Tripoli-based Internal Security Agency (ISA) alleged that foreigners abroad had persuaded Libyans to convert to Christianity. The agent posed as a sympathiser, arranged a meeting with a Libyan man, and reported the encounter to superiors.

The ISA subsequently referred the matter to the Tripoli chief prosecutor, who ordered arrests. Between March and August 2023, the ISA detained 12 Libyans, including a woman, and a Pakistani national – all without named arrest warrants. Two Libyans were later released under police “surveillance.”

Amnesty said eight detainees were held for up to six days without judicial oversight, denied family visits and questioned without legal counsel. Videos showing seven defendants “confessing” to promoting Christianity were published by the ISA within days of their interrogations, undermining their presumption of innocence.

Prosecutors denied most defendants the right to choose a lawyer and withheld access to case files until the trial. Charges included “apostasy” and “promoting Christianity” – the latter not a crime under Libyan law. While the apostasy charge was dropped after defendants declared “repentance,” the court proceeded with other accusations, despite a lack of evidence, Amnesty said.

The Pakistani man, who has lived in Libya since childhood, was accused of forming a banned group to promote Christianity. Prosecutors claimed this violated “fundamental constitutional principles,” though their own indictment noted no law prohibits promoting another religion.

Amnesty said the trial, which began in September 2024, failed to examine witnesses or evidence, and judges repeatedly adjourned hearings while keeping the defendants in custody without justification. Lawyers’ oral defences were cut short and ordered submitted in writing.

The rights group also documented allegations of torture, including severe beatings and one case where a detainee was hung upside down and beaten with a metal pipe. Family and lawyer visits were denied for months to some prisoners, with one defendant barred from outdoor exercise for nearly two years.

“The Libyan authorities must quash these convictions, release all those detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights, and investigate the ISA’s pattern of arbitrary detention and abuse,” Amnesty said.

It urged the public prosecutor to review all cases stemming from ISA investigations and to ensure criminal law complies with Libya’s human rights obligations.

Under international law, freedom of thought and religion includes the right to change beliefs and to express them individually or collectively. Amnesty warned that Libya’s actions breach these principles and entrench a climate of fear.

This is an edited version of the report published by Amnesty International on Aug. 12, 2025.