Maryam Zakaria

Maryam Zakaria Bakhit, born on January 1, 2000, in Darfur, Sudan, now resides in Bayern, Germany, after a harrowing journey through forced displacement, trafficking, and detention.

Fleeing Sudan in March 2021, she arrived in Libya in April, entering through Umm al Aranib.

Shortly after, Maryam and her young son were trafficked to Bani Walid, where they were held in a warehouse for two weeks under the control of a Somalian trafficker. During this time, Maryam endured sexual violence as a method of extortion before paying $500 for her release.

In late May, Maryam continued her journey from Bani Walid to Zawiya, where she awaited a sea crossing.

Around June 1, 2021, she embarked on an overcrowded boat with 90-95 people of mixed nationalities, including migrants from Bangladesh, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Sudan. Six hours into the journey, the boat deflated.

Although they managed to contact emergency services, a drone merely filmed them, and two hours later, the Libyan Coast Guard arrived, taking some but leaving others adrift. Upon returning to Tripoli port for

disembarkation, Maryam witnessed IOM personnel documenting the event without offering further assistance.

Detained by Libyan authorities, Maryam was taken to Al-Mabani (Ghoutshal) prison in Tripoli, where she was stripped of her possessions and separated by gender. The prison conditions were inhumane; she endured prolonged isolation, witnessed severe abuses, and observed young Somali and Eritrean girls being assaulted by guards.

Despite the violence, Maryam's knowledge of Arabic enabled her to survive in the prison's harsh environment. In July 2021, she witnessed the killing of a Somali detainee who attempted to escape.

Transferred to Shara Zawiya in late July, Maryam faced starvation, lack of basic sanitation, and frequent isolation. The situation grew more dire as the area came under bombardment, prompting their return to Al-Mabani.

Although UNHCR attempted to secure detainees' release in August, prison officials resisted. On September 8, 2021, Maryam managed to escape and soon after applied for asylum with the UNHCR office in Tripoli.

In October, during a violent raid on Gargaresh, Maryam was recaptured and briefly detained before escaping again. She witnessed severe violence during these raids, including gunfire, home invasions, and assaults by militias and government-affiliated forces, who surrounded Gargaresh with tanks and heavy artillery.

In the following months, Maryam joined the refugee protest in front of the UNHCR Community Day Center in Tripoli, demanding protection and justice. During this period she played a huge role in representing women’s voice and spoke to notable media like BBC, Al Jazeera and Libya local media. She continued her advocacy until December 30, 2021, when she was relocated to Niger.

On March 23, 2023, she was finally resettled in Germany, where she now resides, committed to advocating for the rights of refugees and raising awareness of the abuses she and others endured.