The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Libya, through its Human Rights Violations Monitoring and Documentation Office, has issued a statement strongly condemning the wave of vandalism and violence that swept Tripoli and Tarhuna following the mid-May football match between Al-Ittihad and Asswehly, describing the incidents as a dangerous indicator of security fragility during sporting events that threatens social peace.
The rights group urged the Attorney General’s Office to launch immediate, transparent investigations to identify those behind the indiscriminate shooting and arson, while demanding the removal of armed factions from securing sports fixtures, suggesting they be replaced by regular civil police forces trained in non-lethal riot control. It also advised the Libyan Football Federation and security authorities to temporarily ban spectators or relocate remaining critical matches to neutral venues until stability is restored.
The public protests had escalated from peaceful rallies into armed clashes involving heavy gunfire, resulting in the death of a security officer and injuries to civilians and players. State institutions and media infrastructure were also targeted, with rioters storming and setting fire to parts of the Prime Minister’s headquarters in the capital, alongside destroying a live broadcast vehicle belonging to the “Libya al-Riyadiya” television channel.
Furthermore, the organization criticized the security forces’ deployment of live ammunition to disperse crowds, calling it a violation of international standards on the proportionate use of force. Reaffirming its commitment to the right to life and rule of law, the group rejected any justification for attacking state property under the guise of fan anger, warning that exploiting sporting rivalries to fuel tribal and regional divisions severely undermines national reconciliation efforts.