The UN Support Mission in Libya has expressed concern over what it described as “disturbing footage circulating on social media,” believed to show the torture of detainees at Gernada prison in eastern Libya.
The facility is operated by military personnel loyal to Khalifa Haftar, leader of the eastern-based administration that competes with the UN-recognized government in Tripoli. Critics of the eastern authorities are reportedly among those held at the prison, located approximately 250 kilometers from Benghazi, the headquarters of the eastern administration.
While the authenticity of the footage remains unverified, the UN has stated that it is consistent with known patterns of human rights violations in detention centers across Libya.
The UN has called for an immediate investigation into the incident.
Human rights organizations have long condemned the abuse and torture taking place in Libyan detention facilities. However, neither the Tripoli government nor the eastern-based authorities have responded to the allegations or the newly surfaced footage.