Lebanon Frees Gadhafi’s Son After 10 Years in Detention
November 10, 2025
Lebanese authorities have released Hannibal Gadhafi, a son of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, after he posted $900,000 bail—bringing an end to a decade of detention without formal charges.
Security officials and Gadhafi’s defense team confirmed Monday that he is now free. His attorney, Charbel Milad al-Khoury, told the Associated Press that Gadhafi “has the full right to choose the destination that he wants,” though he declined to reveal any details about his client’s next moves for security reasons.
The release follows a decision by Lebanese judicial authorities to lower his bail from $11 million and lift a travel ban that had restricted his movement. That ruling came shortly after a Libyan delegation visited Beirut, reportedly pressing for Gadhafi’s freedom.
Hannibal Gadhafi, now in his late 40s, had been detained in Lebanon since 2015, when he was abducted by militants seeking information on the 1978 disappearance of prominent Shiite cleric Moussa al-Sadr. Lebanese police later took Gadhafi into custody, and he remained imprisoned in Beirut for ten years without trial.
Al-Sadr vanished while visiting Libya during Moammar Gadhafi’s rule, and his fate remains one of Lebanon’s most enduring mysteries. His family continues to insist he may still be alive, though most Lebanese believe he was killed decades ago.
In recent years, Libya has repeatedly sought Hannibal Gadhafi’s release, citing health concerns after he went on hunger strike to protest his prolonged detention. His release marks a significant step in a case that has strained Libyan-Lebanese relations for decades.