An investigation has revealed that more than 300 Kurdish migrants attempting to reach the United Kingdom through irregular migration routes were allegedly kidnapped and abused by trafficking networks in Libya.
The migrants, most of them from Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, were reportedly detained by an armed militia after arriving in Libya during journeys organised by human smuggling groups.
According to the investigation, families were asked to pay thousands of dollars in ransom for the release of relatives, while some captives were allegedly threatened with forced organ removal if payments were delayed.
Several former hostages told investigators they were held in overcrowded facilities under harsh conditions and subjected to violence and torture during captivity.
The report also cited photographic evidence and testimonies suggesting that forced medical procedures may have taken place, although the full scale of the allegations remains unclear.
More than 100 migrants were later flown back to Iraq’s Kurdistan Region after being released earlier this year, while the fate of several others remains uncertain.
The investigation linked the case to smuggling networks operating between Iraqi Kurdistan and Libya, where armed groups and traffickers continue to exploit weak state control and ongoing instability.
Human rights groups and migration experts have long warned that Libya remains one of the most dangerous transit points for migrants attempting to cross into Europe due to the presence of militias, criminal gangs and widespread lawlessness.
The case has renewed concerns over the risks faced by migrants travelling through illegal routes across North Africa and the Mediterranean.
