Lebanon Lifts Travel Ban on Hannibal Gaddafi
Hannibal Gaddafi, detained without trial for nearly ten years for allegedly withholding information about the disappearance of a Lebanese Shi'ite cleric, has had his travel restrictions eased.
Background on Detention
Gaddafi has been held in Lebanon since 2015 when he was abducted by local militants. He was accused of withholding information about the fate of Imam Musa al-Sadr, a respected Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim leader who vanished during a trip to Libya in 1978. At that time, Gaddafi was only two years old.
Recent Judicial Developments
Following a visit from a Libyan delegation, Lebanon's judicial authorities revised their earlier decision. In October, a Lebanese judge ordered Gaddafi's release on bail set at $11 million, prohibiting him from leaving the country. His lawyers stated he could not afford that sum and requested permission for travel.
The bail has now been reduced to approximately $900,000, allowing Gaddafi to leave Lebanon once the amount is paid. Officials confirmed that he plans to depart, with his family expected to join him later.
Health Concerns and Libyan Request
In 2023, Libya formally asked for Gaddafi's release, citing his worsening health after a hunger strike protesting his prolonged detention without trial.
Personal Life
Before his abduction, Gaddafi lived in exile in Syria with his Lebanese wife, Aline Skaf, and their children.
"The case of the missing cleric has been a long-standing sore point in Lebanon."
Author’s summary: Lebanon has eased restrictions on Hannibal Gaddafi, reducing his bail and allowing travel after years of detention linked to the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr.