The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the arrest of activist Abdel Aziz Abdulrahman Al‑Orfi, known as “Aziz Al‑Orfi,” aged 27, in the city of Benghazi by armed personnel affiliated with the Internal Security Agency of the Libyan government recognized by the House of Representatives. He was taken to an undisclosed location before being released at a later date.
According to information documented by CFJ, Al‑Orfi’s arrest was linked to a number of posts published on his Facebook and TikTok accounts addressing public affairs. The posts reportedly expressed support for protests that took place in Tripoli and Misrata, called for the dissolution of existing political bodies, and advocated for anti‑corruption measures, elections, and the adoption of a constitution.
Following his release, Al‑Orfi stated in a post on his Facebook page that he had been accused of “incitement and stirring public opinion” because of his online publications. He added that his posts may have been misunderstood and argued that any review of such content should, in his view, have fallen within the jurisdiction of the Cybercrime Prosecution.
Al‑Orfi further stated that his detention exceeded the three‑day period normally prescribed for investigative detention and lasted five days. He indicated that his family was not informed of the reasons for extending his detention beyond the initial period and was only told that investigations were still ongoing.
The circumstances surrounding Al‑Orfi’s detention, particularly his statements concerning the duration of his detention and the lack of information provided to his family regarding its extension, raise concerns about detention safeguards and due process guarantees, especially in cases related to the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression and commentary on public affairs.
The Committee for Justice calls for ensuring respect for due process guarantees in all cases of detention and for refraining from using detention measures or criminal proceedings to restrict freedom of opinion and expression. CFJ also stresses the importance of guaranteeing detainees’ rights to be informed of the reasons for their detention, to communicate with their families, and to enjoy all legal safeguards, in order to prevent the recurrence of arbitrary detention.