Human Rights Solidarity Organization: Serious violations committed under the Pretext of “Combating Sorcery and Witchcraft” in Libya
Human Rights Solidarity (LHRS): “Anti‑Sorcery” Campaign Led to Serious Abuses and Paved the Way for Law No. 6 of 2024
Tripoli – The Human Rights Solidarity Organization (LHRS) expresses deep concern over the serious human rights violations committed in Libya since 2020 under the pretext of “combating sorcery and witchcraft.” These violations include warrantless raids, arbitrary arrests, public humiliation, targeting of women and migrants, and the direct involvement of religious authorities in law enforcement.
LHRS affirms that this campaign, driven by parallel security units and religious bodies, constituted a systematic effort to shape public opinion, culminating in the adoption of Law No. 6 of 2024, which legitimizes harsh punishments and grants broad discretionary powers to non‑judicial bodies, in clear violation of international fair‑trial standards.
LHRS calls for the immediate suspension of the law, an independent investigation into the documented abuses, protection of vulnerable groups from false accusations, and an end to religious interference in judicial and law‑enforcement processes.
| Ref: PRS 2026/04/1028 | April 22, 2026 |
Human Rights Solidarity Organization: Serious violations committed under the Pretext of “Combating Sorcery and Witchcraft” in Libya
- Background of the “Combating Sorcery and Witchcraft”
Since 2020, Libya has witnessed an unprecedented escalation in campaigns targeting what has been labeled “sorcery and witchcraft,” led by parallel security units, police departments, and religious bodies with significant influence, particularly in the eastern region where the Madkhali group dominates the religious establishment. These campaigns adopted an intertwined religious‑security character, beginning with explicit fatwas permitting the killing of alleged “sorcerers” without trial, and evolving into night raids, arbitrary arrests, and orchestrated media campaigns designed to generate moral panic within society. Social media played a central role in amplifying the phenomenon through videos of cemetery raids, burning of amulets, and the public display of coerced “confessions”, all in the absence of judicial oversight or legal safeguards. Over time, these campaigns became tools for social control, settling scores, and expanding the influence of certain religious group within security institutions, both in the east and west, ultimately pressuring the House of Representatives to adopt a Law on Criminalizing Sorcery, Witchcraft, and Divination in January 2024.
- Summary of Documented Violations
Media reports and field materials collected since 2020 reveal a series of serious violations committed under the pretext of “combating sorcery and witchcraft”. Security units in eastern Libya carried out repeated raids on homes and cemeteries, arresting individuals of various nationalities, including women and migrants, without warrants or due process. The “High Committee for Fatwa” issued a religious edict permitting the killing of alleged “sorcerers” by sword, encouraging extrajudicial actions and public humiliation. Religious figures appeared alongside security officers during interrogations, reflecting the fusion of religious authority with law enforcement. Reports also documented decisions by security units to ban women from visiting cemeteries on the grounds of “preventing sorcery,” treating their mere presence as grounds for suspicion—an explicit violation of freedom of movement and privacy. In western Libya, security forces added “sorcery” to criminal charges alongside kidnapping and theft, arresting groups of foreign workers without material evidence. The widespread social belief that psychological or behavioral disorders are caused by sorcery contributed to false accusations and arbitrary detentions.
- Pattern Analysis
These violations reveal a systematic pattern that goes far beyond isolated incidents, reflecting an organized campaign with clear political and social objectives. First, there is a recurrent methodology involving warrantless raids, detention without trial, coerced confessions, and the public dissemination of videos designed to instill fear. Second, the campaign disproportionately targeted vulnerable groups, including women, migrants, foreign workers, and individuals with mental health conditions—people who lack social protection and are easily accused. Third, the campaign involved humiliating practices, such as filming detainees, burning their belongings, and publicly labeling them as “sorcerers” without evidence, violating their dignity and the prohibition of cruel treatment. Fourth, the campaign served a political and social function, enabling religious groups to expand their influence within security institutions and present themselves as guardians of “public morality,” at a time when the country faced severe economic and governance crises. The campaign also diverted public attention from pressing issues such as corruption, electricity shortages, and the collapse of public services.
- Link to Law No. 6 of 2024 on Criminalizing Sorcery, Witchcraft, Divination, and Similar Acts
Evidence indicates that the violations committed since 2020 were not isolated events but constituted a preparatory phase aimed at shaping public opinion to accept an extremely punitive legal framework. The campaign began with fatwas permitting killing, followed by raids and arrests, then large‑scale media promotion, culminating in the submission of a draft “Sorcery Punishment Law” by the religious endowments authorities in Benghazi and Tripoli to the House of Representatives. Members of Parliament stated that the law was adopted in response to “numerous complaints”, complaints that emerged within the context of a campaign orchestrated by religious and security actors. Thus, Law No. 6 of 2024 cannot be understood in isolation from these violations; it represents the legislative embodiment of a socially engineered moral panic rather than a response to a genuine criminal phenomenon.
- Legal Characterization
The violations committed under the “anti‑sorcery” campaign constitute clear breaches of Libya’s international human rights obligations. They violate Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) prohibiting arbitrary arrest, Article 7 prohibiting torture and cruel treatment, and Article 14 guaranteeing the right to a fair trial. They also violate the Convention Against Torture (CAT) through coerced confessions and denial of basic safeguards. These practices contravene the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, particularly provisions on human dignity, personal liberty, and non‑discrimination. Fatwas permitting killing without trial amount to incitement to violence and fall under extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, prohibited under customary international law. Law No. 6 violates the principle of legality, authorizes disproportionate punishments, and grants excessive discretionary power to non‑judicial bodies, placing it in direct conflict with international standards of due process.
- Conclusion
Human Rights Solidarity Organization (LHRS) affirms that the “anti‑sorcery” campaign that began in 2020 has resulted in serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrest, torture, deaths while in custody, public humiliation, targeting of women and migrants, and the involvement of religious authorities in law enforcement. Law No. 6 of 2024 provides a legislative cover for these abuses rather than addressing or preventing them, posing a direct threat to the rule of law, the rights of defendants, and fundamental freedoms in Libya. LHRS calls for the immediate suspension of this law, a comprehensive review of the legal and security framework surrounding the campaign, and the protection of all individuals from persecution based on beliefs, social status, or vulnerability.
- Recommendations
- Annul Law No. 6 of 2024 on Criminalizing Sorcery, Witchcraft, Divination, and similar Acts,
- Launch an independent investigation into violations committed since 2020 under the pretext of “combating sorcery and witchcraft”,
- Prevent religious bodies from interfering in law enforcement and judicial processes,
- Ensure that the campaign is not used to settle scores or target vulnerable groups,
- Strengthen the role of the Public Prosecutor and judiciary in overseeing law enforcement activities,
- Train security forces on human rights standards and due process guarantees,
- Protect women and migrants from false accusations and arbitrary detention, and
- Invite UN Human Rights mechanisms and international partners to monitor the situation and provide technical support.
Human Rights Solidarity Organisation
Tripoli – Libya
April 22, 2026
Annex
Documented Violations Related to “Anti‑Sorcery” Campaigns in Libya
- Incitement to Extrajudicial Killing of Alleged “Sorcerers”
The “High Committee for Fatwa” of the eastern interim government issued a fatwa titled “The Hadd of the Sorcerer and the Punishment of Those Who Deal with Him or Defend Him”, explicitly permitting the killing of alleged sorcerers by sword and calling for “the harshest punishments” against anyone who interacts with them. As reported[1]: “The fatwa permits killing ‘sorcerers’ by striking them with the sword and punishing anyone who deals with them with the harshest penalties”. Violation type: Incitement to extrajudicial execution; violation of the right to life and due process.
- Creation of Security Units Dedicated to “Combating Sorcery” and Conducting Arbitrary Raids
A specialized “Anti‑Sorcery and Witchcraft Unit” within the eastern government’s crime‑control apparatus conducted raids and arrests without judicial warrants. Reports noted[2]: “Videos of officers from the ‘Anti‑Sorcery Unit’… repeatedly showing raids on ‘sorcerers’ and their arrest”.
Violation type: Arbitrary arrest; warrantless raids; absence of procedural safeguards.
- Public Labeling of a Detainee as the ‘Most Dangerous Sorcerer’ and Publishing Alleged Confessions
Authorities in Ajdabiya announced the arrest of the “most dangerous sorcerer in the city,” publishing details of seized items and alleged confessions before any judicial process. The report stated[3]: “They arrested the ‘most dangerous sorcerer in the city’… and he ‘confessed to several crimes’”. Violation type: Violation of presumption of innocence; public shaming; risk of coerced confessions.
- Arrest of Two Moroccan Women in Benghazi on Allegations of Sorcery
Security forces in Benghazi detained two Moroccan women accused of performing sorcery, with images of seized items circulated publicly. The report noted[4]: “Two women of Moroccan nationality were arrested… accused of performing sorcery in the Sidi Hussein area”. Violation type: Discriminatory targeting of migrant women; arbitrary detention; lack of fair‑trial guarantees.
- Use of Media and Security Campaigns to Generate Moral Panic and Distract from Real Crises
Coverage highlighted that the anti‑sorcery campaign overshadowed major national crises such as electricity outages and COVID‑19. As reported[5]: “The campaign became so prominent that it overshadowed the electricity crisis and the spread of COVID‑19”. As a Libyan activist said[6]: “It is nothing but a distraction from the dire situation in the country”. Violation type: Manipulation of public discourse; creation of moral panic; undermining informed public debate.
- Ban on Women Visiting Cemeteries Based on Suspicion of Sorcery
The “Unit for Combating Extremism and Destructive Phenomena” in Al‑Zawiya issued a decision banning women from visiting cemeteries, citing a report of two women allegedly “using sorcery”. The statement read[7]: “The presence of two women in a cemetery places them under suspicion of practicing sorcery”. Violation type: Gender‑based discrimination; arbitrary restriction on freedom of movement and religious practice.
- Expansion of Suspicion to Any Female Presence in Cemeteries, Reinforcing Social Stigma
Media coverage amplified claims of “sorcery items” found in cemeteries, reinforcing suspicion toward women. Reports noted[8]: “Videos circulated showing alleged sorcery items buried in cemeteries”. Violation type: Social stigmatization; encouragement of malicious accusations; discriminatory assumptions.
- Inclusion of “Practicing Sorcery” as a Criminal Charge Alongside Kidnapping and Theft in Western Libya
Security forces under the former Government of National Accord added “practicing sorcery” to criminal charges against a group of foreign nationals arrested in Al‑Qarhabouli. As reported[9]: “Security forces added ‘practicing sorcery’ as a charge alongside kidnapping and theft”. Violation type: Vague and arbitrary criminalization; risk of wrongful prosecution; discriminatory targeting of foreigners.
- Direct Involvement of Religious Figures in Security Operations and Interrogations
Reports documented religious clerics appearing alongside security officers during interrogations and the destruction of alleged sorcery items. The article stated[10]: “The appearance of Madkhali‑aligned clerics next to security officers during interrogations sparked controversy”. Violation type: Erosion of separation between religious authority and law enforcement; compromised impartiality of investigations.
- Use of the Campaign to Expand the Influence of a Specific Religious Current within Security Institutions
Experts noted that the Madkhali group used the campaign to strengthen its security role and target Sufi communities. As reported[11]: “The campaign represents an opportunity for the Madkhali current to expand its influence and strike at the Sufi current”. Violation type: Politicization of law enforcement; religious discrimination; targeting minority religious groups.
- Automatic Association of Mental Illness with Sorcery, Leading to False Accusations
A Libyan academic warned that families often attribute mental illness to sorcery, resulting in accusations against relatives or adversaries. The report stated[12]: “Mental illness is often classified as sorcery… and a person may be punished merely based on accusation”. Violation type: Stigmatization of mental‑health conditions; risk of malicious accusations; violation of the right to health and dignity.
- Use of the Campaign to Justify a Highly Punitive Law with Broad Scope for Abuse
Members of Parliament acknowledged fears that the law could be exploited for fraud or to target vulnerable groups. As reported[13]: “There were legitimate fears that the law could be exploited to deceive or target certain groups for illegitimate purposes”. Violation type: Legislative misuse; risk of arbitrary prosecution; structural threat to human rights.
[1] Al Araby Al Jadeed, “Fighting Witchcraft… The Latest Battle of the Interim Government in Libya”, 11 September 2020.
[2] Endnote (1).
[3] Sputnik News: “Arrest of the ‘Most Dangerous Sorcerer’ in Libya”, 12 September 2020.
[4] Sputnik News: “Libya Fights Sorcerers… Between Reality and Myth”, 15 September 2020.
[5] Endnote (1).
[6] Endnote (4).
[7] Sputnik New: “Reason for Banning Women from Visiting Cemeteries in Libya”, 4 February 2021.
[8] Endnote (7).
[9] Endnote (1).
[10] Endnote (1).
[11] Endnote (1).
[12] Sputnik News: “Law Criminalizing Sorcery Sparks Controversy in Libya”, 19 January 2024.
[13] Endnote (12).
