The massacre left 1,200 victims killed in cold blood, hidden under a veil of secrecy and fear of a public outcry. For years, their story remained untold until it eventually ignited a revolution that ended Gaddafi's regime and brought the victims' bodies out from their hidden graves. The “Abu Salim Prison Massacre” is one of Libya's deepest wounds.
The Prison of Horror
Abu Salim Prison was known as the "Prison of Terror"—one of the most notorious and violent detention centers in Libya, a real nightmare for political prisoners and dissidents. It was opened in 1984 in the Abu Salim neighborhood, southwest of Tripoli, covering an area of over 30 hectares. Initially, it served as a military police camp for military prisoners but soon became a detention center for political dissidents, falling under the supervision of Libya's internal security forces.
The number of prisoners increased gradually, with many held without trial, enduring harsh conditions and brutal torture. They continuously demanded better conditions and a fair trial, but nothing changed until the day of reckoning arrived.
Death or Silence
Years of prisoners' demands went unanswered until the night of June 28, 1996, when a large-scale protest erupted over the appalling conditions inside the prison. Tensions escalated quickly, leading prisoners to seize two prison guards. In response, the guards opened fire, killing six prisoners and injuring 20 others.
The prisoners then called for negotiations with the Libyan government, specifically requesting high-ranking officials who could bring real change. The Libyan authorities initially responded, sending a delegation led by Abdullah Senussi, Gaddafi’s intelligence chief and his brother-in-law. The delegation met with five prisoners, who presented their demands, including:
- An end to torture and a quick trial for the detainees
- Improved food and healthcare services
- Family visits, which had been denied since their imprisonment
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| Abdullah Al-Senussi, head of Libya's intelligence service during the Gaddafi era - Reuters |
While Senussi agreed to most demands, he refused to conduct the trials until the guards were released. The prisoners complied, and about 120 sick prisoners were transferred out of the prison. The remaining prisoners hoped this was the beginning of a resolution after years of hardship, but the reality was much darker.
The Massacre
On the morning of June 29, the prisoners were led out of their cells into the prison courtyard. At 10 a.m., machine guns opened fire on them for a full hour, killing hundreds. The mass execution was followed by more killings over the next two days, leaving over 1,200 dead. Abdullah Senussi was the main figure responsible for the massacre.
The Libyan government concealed the massacre, with reports indicating that the bodies were transported in meat trucks to be buried in mass graves around Tripoli. Some involved in the cover-up later admitted that some bodies were burned and their ashes scattered in the sea. For years, the massacre remained hidden.
Where are the prisoners?
In 2001, Gaddafi's regime began notifying families of the victims of their deaths without providing details or returning the bodies, only issuing death certificates. This led to increasing calls for answers. Human Rights Watch intervened, meeting with some victims' families. One family reported that they had been bringing food and clothes to the prison every week, unaware that their relative had died years earlier. After lengthy negotiations, Human Rights Watch was finally granted access to the prison in 2005. [Source]
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| Families of the victims of the Abu Salim massacre in Libya |
Despite this, Gaddafi continued to deny the massacre, and the regime never handed over the bodies to the families, fueling further protests in 2009 and 2010, with some calling for a full investigation and autopsies to determine the causes of death.
Gaddafi's regime offered compensation to the victims' families, ranging from $98,000 for unmarried victims to $106,000 for married ones, in exchange for not filing lawsuits against the state. However, most families rejected the offer, demanding justice instead of money.
The Spark of the Revolution
Years of demands for justice finally led to a broad investigation, with court sessions held for several of the accused. Libyan lawyer Fathi Terbil, who lost a brother, a cousin, and a brother-in-law in the massacre, became the attorney representing the victims’ families.
However, on the night of February 15, 2011, just two days before the planned start of the Libyan protests, Terbil was arrested. His detention became a spark that ignited the Libyan revolution, forcing the regime to release him. Soon after, protests erupted across Libya, leading to the fall of Gaddafi’s regime.
The Case Remains Open
The Abu Salim case remains unresolved today, with Abdullah Senussi still detained in Mauritania. The massacre lives on in the memories of Libyans, despite Gaddafi's fall. The question remains: will justice be served, or will the case remain unresolved forever?