Twenty-year-old Naima Jamal from the Oromia region of Ethiopia is among countless Africans who have risked everything to seek a better life in Europe, only to fall into the horrors of slavery. Just hours after arriving in Libya, Naima was abducted, highlighting the grave dangers many face on this perilous journey. Her captors are demanding a ransom of $6,000 from her family for her freedom, while distressing pictures and videos of her torture circulate online, shedding light on the urgent need for action and awareness.
Libya, located in the northern part of Africa, serves as a gateway from Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, and vice versa. It has long been used as a “rat route” by many West and North Africans who cannot afford to reach Europe through legal means.
In 2017, CNN conducted an undercover investigation in Tripoli, Libya, revealing an open slave market where men were being sold for labor. Captured migrants endure horrific conditions; many face sexual exploitation and torture, while some have been subjected to ransom demands from their family members.
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Several years have passed, but unfortunately, no progress has been made regarding the situation. Reports suggest that these activities occur in immigrant holding camps. European policies have played a role in perpetuating the problem by funding the Libyan Coast Guard operations that result in migrants being returned to abusive conditions. Naima’s situation has prompted the world to question our direction and how such atrocious acts can continue to operate right under our noses.