Hundreds of Migrants Allegedly Tortured and Threatened With Organ Removal in Libya Captivity Ordeal

More than 300 migrants from Iraqi Kurdistan were allegedly kidnapped, tortured, and threatened with forced organ removal while attempting to reach the UK through Libya, according to a BBC investigation.

The migrants, most of them young men, were reportedly held by a Libyan militia during the summer of 2025 after a dispute involving a people-smuggling network. Families were allegedly ordered to pay a $5,000 ransom for each captive, with threats that hostages’ kidneys would be removed if payments were not made quickly.

Former captives told investigators they endured severe abuse while being held in overcrowded cells, with up to 178 people sharing a single room. They described harsh conditions, limited food, physical torture, and months without access to sunlight. At least one hostage is known to have died, while the fate of some others remains unclear.

Several families presented photographs showing scars on released captives that they believe may be linked to forced organ removal. Medical experts consulted by the BBC said the scars appeared consistent with kidney surgery, although there is no confirmed proof that organs were actually taken.

The case emerged during an investigation into Kurdish smuggling networks operating between Iraq and Europe. Authorities believe criminal groups and armed militias in Libya continue to exploit migrants travelling through the country, where weak state control has allowed human trafficking and ransom kidnappings to flourish.

Despite the horrifying accounts, officials in Iraqi Kurdistan say many people continue to risk the journey to Europe. Local authorities have urged survivors to share their experiences in an effort to discourage others from falling victim to similar smuggling operations.

The revelations have renewed concerns over the dangers faced by migrants along North African routes and the growing role of criminal networks in exploiting vulnerable people seeking a better future abroad.