The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the arrest of political activist Mohamed Adel Mutairid by the Internal Security Agency affiliated with the parallel government in Benghazi on 15 December, following public statements in which he criticized the performance of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh.
According to CFJ’s findings, the arrest was based on a complaint submitted by Aguila Saleh through the Legal Affairs Department of the House of Representatives to the Internal Security Agency. The complaint followed Mutairid’s appearance in an interview on Libya Al‑Ahrar TV, during which he strongly criticized the Speaker, including remarks concerning his external political relationships.
CFJ emphasized that the arrest constitutes a violation of freedom of opinion and expression and contravenes existing Libyan legislation. The committee referenced a ruling issued by the Libyan Supreme Court in Criminal Appeal No. (30/15 Q), which established the principle that legitimate criticism of public authorities is a lawful means of seeking truth and serving the public interest.
The committee stressed that detaining individuals for expressing opinions or criticizing public authorities raises serious concerns about the state of political freedoms and freedom of expression in Libya. CFJ underscored the importance of respecting constitutional and legal guarantees related to free expression and ensuring protection from arbitrary detention carried out outside the framework of the law.