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Egyptian families worry for fishermen detained in Libya

As tensions escalate between Egypt and Libya, the fate of 35 Egyptian fishermen detained in Misrata remains unknown.
Egyptian fishermen, who had entered the Libyan waters with out permission, gather at the port in the Libyan city of Misrata on April 2, 2015, following the order of their release after three months in detention. A Libyan maritime official said the release came after coordinating with their families and Egyptian authorities. AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD TURKIA        (Photo credit should read MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP via Getty Images)

The families of 35 Egyptian fishermen have been living in fear for the past nine months, not knowing the fate of their relatives who were captured by the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) while working in Libyan territorial waters, said the head of the Egyptian fishermen's union, Ahmad Nassar.

In a phone call with Al-Monitor, Nassar expressed his concerns about the detained fishermen's detention conditions amid the coronavirus outbreak. He said, “The families of the fishermen lost contact with them in November, and after digging for information, we found out they were detained in Tourmina prison under the GNA’s control in the Libyan city of Misrata. They have no knowledge of the charges against them. They work according to documented contracts and without violating any laws.”

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