Saturday marked the twentieth day since two Argentine activists were kidnapped in Libya, where they had travelled as part of a humanitarian effort. The pair had been carrying out an aid mission directed at the population of Gaza when they were seized. Their prolonged detention has drawn growing concern from colleagues and relatives who say they have heard little about their fate.
Both of the detained are described as investigative journalists and editors of Nodal, a Latin American and Caribbean news agency. Their journalistic work and their humanitarian mission have placed the case at the center of appeals from press and solidarity groups across the region. Supporters stress that the two were engaged in aid work rather than any activity that would justify their detention.
According to those following the case, the two have been deprived of their freedom since 24 May, when they were detained in the city of Sirte. Since then, weeks have passed with no resolution, and the circumstances of their continued captivity remain unclear. The twenty-day mark has become a rallying point for those demanding that they be freed.
The management of Nodal, together with the activists' family and friends, has formally requested that the Argentine embassy intervene to secure their immediate release. They have pressed for diplomatic action to bring the two home as quickly as possible. So far, however, no concrete response has come from the Argentine foreign ministry, according to those backing the campaign.
The most recent contact with the activists came on Wednesday, 10 June, when supporters managed to arrange a phone call. During that call the two confirmed that they were physically stable and had not suffered bodily harm. They warned, however, of a serious deterioration in their mental state, which they attributed to the isolation of their confinement.
The case has increased pressure on Argentine authorities to act. With the detention now stretching beyond three weeks and the two reporting worsening psychological strain, relatives and colleagues continue to call for a swift diplomatic resolution. They argue that every additional day in captivity deepens the toll on the two journalists.