October 1 in Libya: An Unverified Deadline, Real Threats Telling Refugees to Leave or Face Death

Death threat against RiL activist: Bullet placed on a handwritten note with Arabic text and the date 1/10/2026

What is currently being circulated regarding October 1st goes beyond mere calls for protests; it includes explicit threats of violence, the use of weapons, and the targeting of "Black migrants" in several areas of Tripoli.

The danger of these threats is compounded by announcements from figures linked to the so-called "No to Resettlement" movement regarding planned action on that same day. This places a direct responsibility on the authorities and security agencies to investigate these threats and prevent any attacks before they happen.

Regardless of one's stance on migration or the work of international organizations, the right to demonstrate and protest does not grant anyone the right to assault individuals, storm institutions, forcibly shut down their premises, or threaten migrants and refugees—let alone evict them from their homes and neighborhoods.

The danger of these calls lies in the fact that they do not arise in a vacuum.

They have been preceded in recent months by incidents involving the blocking of UN premises with earthen berms and the storming of other facilities, alongside allegations and testimonies of assaults against Libyan staff and migrants—including women and children. Some of these incidents were even filmed and publicly shared by the participants themselves.

Therefore, we hold the Ministry of Interior, the Tripoli Security Directorate, and the relevant security agencies responsible for taking the necessary preventive and legal measures prior to October 1st. The responsibility of state agencies extends beyond merely securing the protests; it includes ensuring they remain peaceful and preventing them from escalating into attacks on individuals, property, or facilities. We also call for an independent and transparent investigation into circulating allegations regarding the participation or presence of individuals affiliated with security agencies—dressed in plainclothes—during previous attacks on international premises. These include allegations concerning personnel from the General Security Agency and security outposts. While these are serious accusations that should not be treated as fact prior to investigation, their gravity compels the relevant authorities to either refute them with evidence or investigate them and hold those responsible accountable if proven true.

We hold the organizers and spokespersons of the "No to Resettlement" movement clearly accountable for their rhetoric and calls to action. While they have the right to express their stance on immigration policies, those who uphold the rule of law and the right to peaceful protest should be the first to condemn beatings, assaults, storming, and the forcible closure of institutions—rather than justifying such actions as merely a "popular reaction."

We call upon the Public Prosecutor's Office to monitor public threats and potential incitement, and to investigate the video clips, posts, and accounts that announced or documented previous attacks, including material that was subsequently deleted. We also call on the Head of the Government of National Unity and the Minister of Interior to announce clear measures to protect all civilians and prevent any attacks on October 1st.

The warning today is clear; no official body should later claim ignorance. Any call that turns Tripoli into a theater of violence or threatens bloodshed on October 1st must be treated seriously starting now. Protecting lives and preventing assaults is the state's responsibility, and any failure to address declared threats warrants accountability. Disagreement over immigration does not justify violence, and rejecting allegations of resettlement grants no one a license to assault others or take a human life.