Mohammed Algarj

Around twenty days after my disappearance, news of my demise began to circulate, and many accepted it as truth, save for my family. They refused to hold a funeral until they had my lifeless body in their hands.

My name is Mohammed Algarj, a journalist and a researcher on Libyan affairs.

Growing up in Zintan, I had diverse experiences, dabbling in agriculture, trade, blogging, and volunteering in civil society. I pursued a business career and ventured into politics, embracing opportunities that came my way.

The unexpected 2019 war rekindled my role as a war correspondent after a hiatus. I was abducted near Al-Aziziyah during a press tour south of Tripoli, alongside photographer Muhammad Al-Shaibani. We were confined, handcuffed inside a military vehicle, subjected to beatings, curses, and loss of personal belongings and equipment, and thrust into a harsh prison.

A memory surfaced: a joke to my father about never experiencing imprisonment. Now, in a cell, I played the role of an Imam and a storyteller. Released twenty days later, everything had changed. I applied for a new passport and swiftly departed Libya.

After three years of estrangement, I carved a new path far from my homeland. I married and started a family, and now my paramount concern is forging a brighter future for my daughter. The road ahead remains challenging. But I ponder: had Libya been stable, safe, and supportive of freedom of speech and journalism, would I have traversed this array of experiences?