The National Council for Public Freedoms and Human Rights has called for the immediate and unconditional release of General National Congress member Suleiman Zoubi, emphasizing the need to punish all those involved in his arrest and torture.  

In a statement on Wednesday, the council expressed grave concern over the continuation of forced and illegal disappearance of Zoubi in the city of Zintan for more than a year which constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights amid the silence of state officials and most of the local and international human rights organizations.

The council said it would refer the case file to the fact-finding committee established by resolution (A/HRC/28/L.7/Rev) of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations.

Congressman Suleiman Zoubi was kidnapped on July 20, 2014 in Janzur district of Tripoli by a Zintani militia called Barq Al-Nasir "Victory Lightning." Since then, there had not been any contact with his family and his place of arrest was not known except through a former co-detainee who defined his place of detention in the city of Zintan.

Four days after the kidnapping, his son Bousaif Suleiman Zoubi, was also kidnapped and later found dead in one of Benghazi areas and his body showed signs of torture.

According to his family, Zoubi, who is now over 70, has been subjected to multiple varieties of torture including beatings, humiliation and hot water being poured on his body; let alone being isolated from the outside world and lack of communication with his family since he was kidnapped. 

He was also injured by a bullet on his leg at the early days of his detention. The kidnappers are now requesting Zoub's family to pay an LYD 5 million ransom for his release.