Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a strong appeal to Lebanese authorities for the urgent release of Hannibal Gaddafi, who has been held in pre-trial detention for the past ten years. Hannibal, the son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, was detained in December 2015 by Lebanon's Internal Security Forces. The charges against him revolve around allegedly withholding information related to the mysterious disappearance of the revered Lebanese cleric Moussa al-Sadr in 1978, when Hannibal was only two years old.

In a recent visit, HRW representatives interviewed Hannibal Gaddafi and his legal counsel in his underground prison cell, described as windowless yet ventilated. Gaddafi shared that, despite access to basic healthcare and sufficient food, he suffers from malnutrition, systematic weakness, and a notable decline in his mental health due to prolonged isolation and restricted family contact. He also reported physical torture endured during his initial capture along the Syrian border.

The Beirut Bar Association has highlighted poor conditions across Lebanese detention facilities, noting a severe backlog with over 80 percent of prisoners awaiting sentencing. This report aligns with Gaddafi’s extended pre-trial detention, raising serious concerns about the legality and humanity of his prolonged incarceration.

International standards mandate strict adherence to due process in detentions, including transparency, regular judicial reviews, trials within reasonable timeframes, and opportunities to challenge detention legality. Both Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Lebanon's penal code emphasize that non-compliance with these principles can render detention arbitrary and unlawful.

HRW Lebanon researcher, Ramzi Kaiss, criticized the Lebanese judicial system's susceptibility to political interference, stating, "Gaddafi’s case is emblematic of a fractured judicial system that lacks independence... Lebanese authorities should put an end to Gaddafi’s near decade-long detention and release him immediately."

Despite previous appeals to Lebanese government officials, HRW has received no response. The organization reiterates its call for Gaddafi's immediate release and for Lebanon to comply with legal standards and international human rights obligations.