Libya: Escalating Hate Speech, Xenophobia, and Violence Against Migrants in Libya
Tunis, 19 March 2025 – The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) strongly condemns the alarming surge in hate speech, xenophobia, and violence targeting sub-Saharan migrants in Libya. A dangerous social media campaign, stirred by the Libyan Mufti's incendiary statements, now demands the deportation of all migrants and calls for violence against organisations working on migration, creating a climate of fear and hostility.
Remarks attributed to Libya’s Minister of Local Governance, Badr al-Din al-Toumi, on March 9th, 2025, regarding the potential integration of migrants in Libya, were widely misinterpreted. A subsequent meeting between Al-Toumi and Nicoletta Giordano, Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Libya, further fuelled unfounded allegations of state-sanctioned “resettlement” plans.
On March 12th, 2025, the Grand Mufti Al-Gharyani's Ramadan video statement, falsely conflating humanitarian integration with “resettlement” and alleging foreign-led demographic manipulation, ignited a virulent social media campaign.
Prime Minister al-Dbeibeh convened an emergency security meeting on March 17th, 2025, with the Acting Minister of Interior, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, and border security authorities, reaffirming legal migration management and condemning misinformation. However, his assurances failed to stop the spread of hate speech online. This led to demands for mass deportations of migrants and nationwide protests scheduled for March 20th under the banner of the ‘Anti-Resettlement of Migrants Movement’.
Misinformation, xenophobic rhetoric, and institutional neglect have created a perilous environment for migrants. The tragic killing of a Sudanese refugee on March 13th, 2025, and a surge in arbitrary arrests which included women and children since March 11th, highlight the lethal consequences.
Compounding this, social media calls for violence now also target civil society organisations working on migration, forcing many to suspend operations due to safety concerns. This not only endangers migrants but also puts the staff of these organizations at serious risk.
We call upon the Libyan authorities to:
- Guarantee the safety, security, and well-being of all migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees within their territory.
- Actively combat the spread of hate speech and misinformation targeting migrants.
- Investigate and hold accountable those responsible for acts of violence against migrants.
- Continue to publicly condemn hate speech and calls for violence, and promote humane treatment of people on the move.
- Facilitate the efforts of international and local organisations in fulfilling their responsibilities towards vulnerable migrant groups, and ensure their safety and protection.
We call upon the international community to:
- Publicly condemn the rise of hate speech and violence against migrants in Libya.
- Increase humanitarian assistance and protection support for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Libya.
- Support efforts to counter misinformation and promote tolerance and understanding.
- Hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable.
This situation demands immediate attention and action to prevent further suffering and ensure that the principles of humanity and international law are respected. The spread of misinformation must be countered, and those responsible for inciting violence must be held accountable.
