Read on Twitter
Thread on the Libyan slave trade 
The Libyan “slave trade” gained a lot of media attention towards the end of 2017, especially after news reports by CNN.
First of all we have to understand the definition of slavery.
As we can see, in order for someone to be a slave, there must be some sort of work done or required from them with little to no pay and against their will.
This definition does not fit with any reports we have seen from Libya, perhaps limited only to armed militias.
Which leads us onto our next point, if not a slave trade then what is it? Because we can’t deny it’s happening right?
Which leads us onto our next point, if not a slave trade then what is it? Because we can’t deny it’s happening right?
Indeed, there have been a lot of human rights abuses to migrants in Libya, however there are little to no reports on abuse faced by migrants from regular Libyan citizens. They’re almost always exclusively committed by militiamen.
Various militias see the business of trafficking migrants to be a very lucrative one, with migrants often paying up to $5000 to get to Europe as per the Financial Times. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/dbc2da0b-4425-4a45-a46a-f1365199c915
And often much more in ransom money. Even discriminating based on nationality, according to AP News:
Although subsaharan Africans make up the majority of the migrant population, we also see North African and Middle Eastern victims, alongside Libyans themselves. US department of state website says:
These same militias have been terrorising Libyans for years, and all Libyans want them dismantled.
I personally have had a family member kidnapped by these militias 5 years ago, not been found since.
I personally have had a family member kidnapped by these militias 5 years ago, not been found since.
These militias are often funded irresponsibly by the EU to keep migrants out of Europe.
- As reported by AP News: https://apnews.com/article/9d9e8d668ae4b73a336a636a86bdf27f
And although Libyan militiamen make up the majority of the human rights abuses, human trafficking is not exclusive to them:
A lot of photos we see from this alleged slave trade are in fact false, or cannot be proven to be from Libya.
I do not know why the media outlets would label it a slave trade, it seems to me they done this perhaps to scare off African migrants attempting to cross to Europe through Libya.
And of course, lucrative headlines sell.
And of course, lucrative headlines sell.
I’m curious if the majority of the victims were from, say North African descent, would they be so quick to label this a slave trade?
Lucrative media wording at its finest.
Lucrative media wording at its finest.
A few more debunked photos:
May the almighty protect everyone in distress and make their lives easy and punish the wrongdoers.
End of thread.
