Refugees in Libya, an organisation advocating for refugees and migrants, has raised concerns over the alleged sexual harassment of a young Black refugee girl by a taxi driver in Tripoli.

In a post published on X on August 23, the organisation identified the alleged perpetrator as Ali, also known by the nickname “Al-Boura,” and said he is a resident of Qasr Bin Ghashir, Tripoli.

According to Refugees in Libya, the incident occurred on August 17 when Ali allegedly sexually harassed the girl, who the organisation said was a minor.

The organisation said the girl repeatedly asked the driver to stop and told him that she was underage and did not consent to his touching her. Despite her objections, the driver allegedly continued.

Refugees in Libya said the girl recorded and later shared a video of the incident on TikTok because she was afraid to report the alleged crime through official channels.

The organisation claimed that reporting such an incident could expose the refugee to the risk of arrest before she could formally file a complaint, highlighting what it described as the vulnerability of refugee women and girls in Libya.

The video subsequently circulated widely on social media, prompting mixed reactions from Libyans. According to Refugees in Libya, some users called for Ali’s arrest, while others reportedly demanded the arrest and imprisonment of the girl, questioning why she had recorded the incident and accusing her of being an agent of Western interests.

The organisation said it has since lost contact with the girl and does not know her current whereabouts, while the video continues to circulate online.

Refugees in Libya also expressed concern that, despite information allegedly being made public about Ali’s whereabouts, there was still no evidence that law enforcement authorities had arrested him.

The organisation’s account could not independently establish whether an arrest had been made or verify the full circumstances surrounding the allegations.

The case has renewed concerns among refugee and migrant rights advocates about the protection of vulnerable migrants in Libya, particularly women and girls who may face barriers to reporting sexual violence and harassment.

Refugees in Libya called attention to the situation as part of its broader advocacy over the treatment and safety of refugees and migrants in the country.