Hundreds of migrants hoping to reach Britain have been returned home to Iraqi Kurdistan after being kidnapped, tortured and threatened in Libya.
The large-scale rescue operation came after a BBC investigation uncovered allegations that more than 300 migrants were kidnapped in Libya while trying to continue their journeys towards Europe and the UK.
According to the broadcaster, families were told their relatives’ organs would be removed unless ransom payments were made.
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Former captives also described being held in harsh conditions while awaiting release, as reported by Need To Know.
Separate statements from the Kurdistan Regional Government reveal authorities have been carrying out a major effort to return stranded migrants safely home.
On 23 January, officials announced that 100 young people from the Kurdistan Region had been returned after being detained in Libya while attempting to migrate illegally to Western countries.
The operation was coordinated by the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Interior’s Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC), the Department of Foreign Relations and the Iraqi Embassy in Libya.
According to the Kurdistan Regional Government, the repatriation followed “extensive work and careful follow-up” to secure the migrants’ release.
Officials said the group represented the fifth convoy of returnees from Libya, with most coming from the Raparin area of the Kurdistan Region.
Authorities said at the time that further rescue flights were expected in the coming days.
Just 24 hours later, another 97 migrants were successfully returned from Libya.
The Kurdistan Regional Government said many of those rescued had endured months of hardship after becoming stranded while attempting to reach Western countries through irregular migration routes.
Some had spent up to eight months in detention centres and had repeatedly faced life-threatening situations, officials said.
Throughout the operation, authorities repeatedly warned families about the dangers of illegal migration.
“The Kurdistan Regional Government once again stresses the importance of protecting young people and their families by avoiding illegal and irregular migration routes to Western countries,” officials said.
The government warned that such journeys “not only put lives at risk” but can also lead to breaches of foreign laws and serious legal consequences.
Officials said the experiences of those rescued highlighted the severe risks involved, with many spending months in detention while facing ongoing threats to their safety.
By the end of January, the Kurdistan Regional Government said it had successfully rescued and repatriated 299 migrants from Libya and other dangerous situations.
Authorities also revealed that specialist teams remained in Libya searching for and assisting other Kurdish migrants whose health and living conditions were still considered to be at risk.
“The process is ongoing,” officials said, adding that efforts to bring home remaining migrants would continue.
The latest revelations have once again shone a spotlight on the dangers facing migrants travelling through Libya, a major transit route for those attempting to reach Europe and, ultimately, Britain.
Kurdish authorities said their focus remains on protecting citizens from falling victim to people-smuggling networks and preventing more young people from embarking on journeys that could put their lives at risk.
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