Amazigh human rights activist, Rabea Jayash, was abducted on December 27 in Benghazi by an armed group affiliated with Khalifa Haftar’s self-styled army.

Jayash, from the western town of Yefren, was invited by a friend to visit Benghazi to attend a celebration of the Independence Day at the Kids’ Theatre.

Local sources from Yefren said Jayash was abducted by gunmen outside the theatre after speaking over the telephone using his Amazigh language.

“The gunmen arrested him immediately, searched his bag and found a book written in Tamazight language. They accused him of espionage.” The sources added.

Jayash was abducted together with his Benghazi host, Jamal Fellah, who was later released after interrogation over his links to Jayash.

Jayash’s fate is still unknown.

The National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) has strongly condemned what it called the arbitrary detention of cultural and human rights activist Rabea Jayash.

The NCHRL disclosed that Jayash was abducted by an armed group led by Ali Al-Amrouni called “The Districts Operations Room of Libyan Army in Benghazi.”

The human rights group demanded senior officials of so-called “Libyan Army” to intervene and secure Jayash’s release.