More than 300 migrants from Iraq’s Kurdistan region who were attempting to reach the United Kingdom were reportedly kidnapped in Libya, subjected to torture, and threatened with forced organ removal by an armed militia demanding ransom payments from their families.
The migrants were allegedly captured while transiting through Libya as part of a smuggling route towards Europe. According to accounts from survivors and relatives, the captors demanded approximately $5,000 from each family and warned that those who failed to pay could have their kidneys removed.
Several former hostages who have since returned home described harsh conditions during their captivity. They claimed they were held in overcrowded cells, denied adequate food, and subjected to physical abuse. Some reported being confined alongside more than 170 other detainees in a single room for several months.
Families of the victims received photos and videos from the captors showing detainees in distress. Some images reportedly showed individuals with surgical scars, raising concerns that forced organ removal may have occurred. However, authorities have not independently confirmed these allegations.
At least one hostage is reported to have died while in captivity, though the exact circumstances remain unclear. Iraqi authorities have assisted in the return of some survivors, while the fate of others remains unknown.
Investigations indicate that the migrants had paid large sums to people-smuggling networks operating between Iraq and North Africa. Libya continues to be a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, despite ongoing security challenges and the presence of armed groups operating across parts of the country.
Human trafficking and kidnapping-for-ransom remain significant concerns along migration routes through Libya, where weak state control in some regions has enabled criminal networks to operate with relative freedom.
Officials in Iraq’s Kurdistan region have urged citizens to be cautious of irregular migration routes and warned that many migrants continue to face serious risks, including exploitation, violence, and human trafficking.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the kidnapping network and the allegations surrounding the treatment of the hostages.
