Hannibal Gaddafi’s Lawyer: Lebanese Judiciary Hesitates Under “Political Pressure”… All Standards Demand Immediate Release
Background of the Interview and Defense Statements
Laurent Bayon, Hannibal Gaddafi’s defense attorney, revealed that the Lebanese judiciary is hesitating to respond to his client’s release request “under political pressure,” stressing that—according to him—”all legal standards demand Hannibal’s immediate and unconditional release.” Bayon’s statements came in an interview with “Erem News,” in which he discussed the case’s trajectory since Hannibal’s arrest in Lebanon in 2015 and its health and legal repercussions.
Health Condition and Hospital Care
Bayon said his client’s condition “remains affected by long years of solitary confinement and mistreatment,” explaining that he “suffers from psychological and physical effects accumulated over more than 9 years of arbitrary detention.” He noted that “he is receiving limited treatment in the hospital,” but the care is “insufficient and does not comply with international medical recommendations issued after a visit by human rights organizations in 2025,” according to him. He added that “the security restrictions imposed make the care far from the required humanitarian standard.”
Administrative and Security Restrictions on Medical Follow-up
Bayon explained that “the medical staff is operating within the limits of their capabilities,” but “the decision is not in their hands.” He pointed to “security directives that restrict all movement, and even medical appointments and tests require prior approval from security authorities.” He mentioned that “some doctors are very sympathetic,” but “the administrative and security system renders them unable to actually improve his situation.”
Release Request Since August… and Judicial “Hesitation”
The defense attorney stated that “the request submitted in August is still pending because Judge Zaher Hamadeh has not yet issued his decision, despite the completion of all procedures and no objection from the Public Prosecution.” He considered that “the file has become hostage to a political rather than a judicial decision, especially amid the tug-of-war surrounding the case of Imam Musa al-Sadr,” accusing the judge of “hesitating under clear political pressure,” while “all legal standards demand immediate and unconditional release,” according to him.
The Libyan File and Procedural Pretexts
In response to claims of procedural obstacles such as “handing over the Libyan file,” Bayon denied this, asserting that “this justification is inaccurate” and that “the Libyan file is not the real obstacle, as there is official correspondence between the two countries.” He added that “the real reason for the delay in the ruling is internal Lebanese political will.”
Notifications Against Figures from the Former Regime
Regarding “notifications” issued by the Lebanese judiciary to Libya concerning 13 figures from the former regime, Bayon said he “does not have precise information” and does not wish to delve into matters “that are not directly related to his client’s file.” He considered that this “judicial or political conflict must remain separate from Hannibal Gaddafi’s case, which solely concerns his human and legal right to freedom.”
Suspicions of Swaps and Deals
Bayon confirmed the existence of “unofficial attempts” to link Hannibal’s release to “financial or political settlements,” but he stressed that “the file is now in the hands of the Lebanese judiciary,” and “it is not acceptable to link it to deals or bargains.” He noted that it is “a case related to a fundamental human right, which is freedom after a long arbitrary detention.”
Legal or Political Solution?
The defense attorney considered that the case “has been legally concluded for years,” as “there is no proven crime,” and “the only charge is withholding information.” However, he acknowledged that “the realistic solution is no longer purely legal, but political and humanitarian,” because “the actual decision is governed by internal balances among Lebanese parties who see the file as a symbolic card rather than a matter of justice.”
The al-Sadr Case and Denial of Possessing Information
Bayon denied the “validity of claims” that Hannibal “knows who ordered the kidnapping of Imam Musa al-Sadr,” asserting that his client “was subjected to physical and psychological torture after his abduction,” and that “anyone in such circumstances might say what is dictated to them.” He added that “the events occurred in 1978 when he was a child no older than two,” considering that “these accusations are merely a political pretext to prolong an illegal detention.”