The son of Libya’s ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saadi Gaddafi, who has been in detention since 2014, was released with the decision of the Libyan Chief Prosecutor’s Office and the approval of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.
Saadi Gaddafi, who took refuge in Niger after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi’s government with the anti-regime demonstrations that started in 2011, was extradited to Libya by the Niger government of the time in March 2014. Gaddafi, who has been in prison for about 7 years, was released on the condition of leaving his country.
According to international sources, the decision to release Gaddafi was taken as a result of negotiations attended by PM Dbeibeh, some tribal leaders, and former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha. Making a statement on the subject on his social media account, Dbeibeh confirmed Saadi Gaddafi’s release and said, “No progress can be made without reaching a consensus; We cannot establish the unity and solidarity of the state without applying the law and complying with the judicial decisions.”
Saadi Gaddafi, who took responsibility for the sports activities of Libya during the period of Muammar Gaddafi, was also a professional football player. Saadi Gaddafi was on trial for the murder of Bashir al-Rayani, the manager of the Libyan national football team, as well as for crimes he committed against protesters during the anti-regime demonstrations that began in 2011.
