Published : 23-08-2017
Seven Palestinian refugees from Syria have been held captive by smuggling gangs in Libya after they were kidnapped from Bani Walid area on July 23, 2017 on their way to Europe, fleeing war-ravaged Syria. The smugglers demanded ransoms of up to $5,000 per every captive.
According to recent reports, the smugglers released an elderly Palestinian aged 70-years-old after her health status has gone downhill.
Reaching out to AGPS by phone, a captive’s mother said her son and the other detainees have had their hopes dashed due to the mistreatment they have been subjected to by the smugglers. She added that she paid the required sum but her son has not been unshackled yet.
The captives’ families called on the concerned human rights institutions and activists, along with the Palestinian Embassy in Libya, to urgently step in and work on restoring their relatives’ freedom.
Seven Palestinian refugees from Syria have been held captive by smuggling gangs in Libya after they were kidnapped from Bani Walid area on July 23, 2017 on their way to Europe, fleeing war-ravaged Syria. The smugglers demanded ransoms of up to $5,000 per every captive.
According to recent reports, the smugglers released an elderly Palestinian aged 70-years-old after her health status has gone downhill.
Reaching out to AGPS by phone, a captive’s mother said her son and the other detainees have had their hopes dashed due to the mistreatment they have been subjected to by the smugglers. She added that she paid the required sum but her son has not been unshackled yet.
The captives’ families called on the concerned human rights institutions and activists, along with the Palestinian Embassy in Libya, to urgently step in and work on restoring their relatives’ freedom.