UNSMIL: Libyan Journalists Face Rising Online Abuse
Libyan journalists are increasingly falling victim to online harassment, undermining their ability to report freely on corruption, human rights violations, and other critical issues, according to participants in a recent discussion hosted by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
The session, held last Thursday as part of UNSMIL's Basira professional development programme and co-organised with the Mission's Human Rights Section, brought together 31 journalists from across Libya. The discussion is intended to help shape a forthcoming workshop scheduled for June 19, led by a digital safety expert from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international NGO.
During the session, journalists shared personal stories of online abuse, highlighting its various forms, frequency, and underlying motives. A post-event poll revealed that 92% of attendees had experienced online harassment.
Journalist Iman bin Amer stressed the urgency of addressing digital harassment, noting that it threatens freedom of expression and pushes journalists toward self-censorship. 'Ignoring the issue means silencing free voices,' she said.
The most common forms of abuse included offensive comments and messages on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Participants also warned of manipulated media, including AI-generated and edited images or videos, used to defame and intimidate journalists.
Several noted that harassment often escalates to death threats or physical assaults, with some attacks appearing to be coordinated smear campaigns. One journalist, who was dismissed from his job following a social media attack, said, 'They damaged my reputation so severely that I ended up under investigation by state intelligence. The video is still on YouTube, and years later, it resurfaces every time I post anything.'
The survey also highlighted that the harassment is often driven by the topic of coverage, the journalist's gender, age, or background. Political and human rights reporting frequently draws targeted attacks. One journalist recalled being accused of promoting 'foreign agendas' for covering gender-based violence.
However, even non-political reporting was not immune. A journalist said he was targeted after broadcasting a sports match, accused of 'supporting the rival team.' Another was harassed for covering flood victims in Derna.
Women journalists reported especially gendered abuse, stating that nearly every piece of content they posted invited harassment. 'Being a female journalist in Libyan society is extremely difficult,' said one participant. 'They attack your honour and make everything personal.'
According to UNSMIL, 86% of women journalists said the abuse affected their work, while 30% of all participants said they reduced their online presence to avoid backlash. Another 30% admitted to softening their tone or avoiding sensitive topics entirely.
Journalist Mohamed Fawzi called for urgent reforms: 'Journalists need a safe space to work freely and with integrity. Without that, there is no free press.' Tags: JournalismlibyaMediaOnline Abuseununsmil
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Libya Review
15 hours ago
- Libya Review
Lockerbie Trial for Libyan Bombing Suspect Delayed to April 2026
The trial of Abu Ajila Masoud, the Libyan man accused of making the bomb that destroyed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988, has been postponed until April 2026. The decision was made jointly by the prosecution and defence, citing the defendant's health and the case's complex international nature. Masoud, who is in his early seventies and holds dual Libyan-Tunisian citizenship, was expected to appear before a US jury in Washington last month. However, the proceedings were delayed due to his non-life-threatening medical condition and the intricate legal and evidentiary issues surrounding the case. Masoud has pleaded not guilty to charges of constructing the explosive device that caused the death of 270 people, including 259 on board and 11 residents of Lockerbie in Scotland. The incident remains the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history. US prosecutors allege that Masoud, while jailed in Libya in 2012, confessed to working for Libyan intelligence and admitted to assembling the bomb. He also allegedly named two accomplices: Abdelbasset Al-Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifah Fhimah. Megrahi was convicted in 2001 and released in 2009 on compassionate grounds before dying in 2012. Fhimah was acquitted. Both US and Scottish prosecutors identified Masoud as a suspect in 2015, following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime. He was formally charged in 2020 and taken into US custody in 2022 after being seized from his home by an armed Libyan militia. Lawyers have requested early deadlines for legal motions, including efforts to suppress Masud's alleged confession. The US District Court for the District of Columbia acknowledged that the pre-trial schedule would be non-standard due to the international scope of the case. Masoud remains in US custody pending trial. Tags: Abu Ajila MasoudlibyaLockerbieus
Libya Review
17 hours ago
- Libya Review
Sabratha Militia Violence Leaves 5 Dead on Eid Al-Adha
At least five young Libyan fighters were killed in intense clashes between rival militias in the western coastal city of Sabratha, marking a violent start to Eid al-Adha. The fighting broke out early on Eid morning between two local militias: one led by Saleh Al-Dabbashi and the other by Ahmed Al-Dabbashi, also known as 'Al-Ammu.' Residents reported hours of heavy gunfire involving light and medium weapons, sending panic across the city's neighbourhoods. Local sources confirmed the death of Nouri Al-Fathali during the initial phase of the violence, followed by the killing of Tariq Al-Hamoudi, a prominent fighter linked to one of the armed factions. Soon after, reports emerged of the deaths of Malik Al-Shawi and Mohammed Al-Khadrawi from the city of Zawiya, and another unnamed Libyan young man, bringing the current death toll to at least five. Despite the escalating violence, there has been no official response from the Government of National Unity or the ministries of interior and defence. The absence of any public statement has drawn criticism from residents, who expressed growing frustration over the state's inability to curb militia violence or protect civilians. Rights groups have urged citizens to remain indoors and avoid conflict zones as the security situation deteriorates. Eyewitnesses described scenes of fear and chaos in several districts, with families trapped in their homes and reports of random gunfire. The incident underscores the fragile security landscape in western Libya, where rival armed groups continue to operate with impunity amid weak state authority and limited law enforcement. Clashes between militias have become a recurring threat in Sabratha, a city already known for smuggling networks and competing power structures. Tags: Eid Al-AdhalibyaLibyan CrisismilitiasSabratha
Libya Review
2 days ago
- Libya Review
Gaza Aid Ship Rescues Migrants Fleeing Libya
A humanitarian vessel sailing to Gaza rescued four migrants in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday after they jumped into the water to avoid being taken by Libyan authorities. The incident took place as the Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was on a mission to deliver aid to Gaza and draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. The vessel was alerted by the EU border agency Frontex to a migrant boat in distress. Upon arrival, the crew found 30 to 40 people aboard a dangerously deflating rubber boat. As the Madleen prepared to assist, a Libyan coast guard ship approached at high speed. Fearing forced return to Libya, four migrants leapt into the sea and began swimming toward the Madleen, which successfully pulled them to safety. The rest of the passengers were intercepted and returned to Libya—a country where returned migrants frequently face detention, abuse, and human rights violations, according to numerous international organizations. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition condemned the return of the migrants, calling for urgent European intervention to provide protection and safe passage. They appealed to Italy, Malta, and Greece to allow the Madleen to dock and grant the rescued individuals asylum. The ship had departed Sicily earlier in the week carrying humanitarian supplies and 12 activists, including climate advocate Greta Thunberg, actor Liam Cunningham, and French MEP Rima Hassan. Hassan, of Palestinian origin, has been barred from entering Israel due to her criticism of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The Madleen aims to challenge the naval blockade on Gaza and raise awareness of what aid groups have called an unfolding famine. The World Food Programme recently warned that one in five Palestinians is on the brink of starvation. This maritime rescue brings renewed focus to the plight of migrants departing from Libya. The country remains one of the most dangerous starting points for migrants attempting to reach Europe. Human rights monitors have consistently reported that those returned to Libya are often held in overcrowded detention centers, subjected to exploitation, or fall under the control of armed groups. Last month, another ship belonging to the Freedom Flotilla was attacked by drones while sailing in international waters near Malta, damaging the vessel and forcing the mission to halt. The group blamed Israel for the strike. The recent incident has again sparked outrage from rights groups and humanitarian organizations, who warn that returning migrants to Libya violates international conventions, particularly when they are at risk of torture or arbitrary detention.
