Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) is urgently demanding information about the whereabouts and safety of Doaa El-Houni, a Libyan woman arrested in Türkiye and forcibly returned to Libya, where she is being detained by the Internal Security Agency after being accused of “spreading atheism.”
According to official announcements issued by Libyan security bodies, including the Libyan Intelligence Service and Internal Security Agency, Doaa was arrested in Türkiye and returned to Tripoli on or around 14 August 2026 following coordination between Turkish and Libyan authorities.
She had fled Libya in 2021 following threats to her life.
Her current whereabouts have not been disclosed.
The circumstances of Doaa’s detention are particularly alarming because Libya has an extensively documented record of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, torture, ill-treatment and denial of due process. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya has continued to document such abuses in 2026, including torture and ill-treatment involving the Internal Security Agency. This harsh reality was further underscored in July, when a video appeared on social media showing the public flogging of a woman by judicial police in Sabha.
Returning Doaa from Türkiye to this situation also raises grave questions concerning Türkiye’s obligations under the international principle of non-refoulement. Article 3 of the UN Convention Against Torture prohibits the expulsion, return or extradition of a person where there are substantial grounds for believing that they would face a danger of torture.
Doaa is being targeted and persecuted for the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights that belong to every human being.
CEMB demands that the Libyan authorities:
- Immediately disclose Doaa El-Houni’s location and place of detention.
- Provide proof that she is alive and guarantee her physical and psychological safety.
- Give her immediate and confidential access to an independent lawyer.
- Allow independent medical examination and access by appropriate international human rights monitors.
- Ensure that she is protected from torture, ill-treatment, coercion and forced confession.
- Release her immediately.
Freedom of religion or belief includes the right to reject religion, leave Islam, criticise religion and live openly as an atheist.
We call on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms to intervene urgently, seek access to Doaa, establish her whereabouts and press the Libyan authorities for her protection and release.
We further call on human rights organisations, atheist and secular organisations, women’s rights groups and defenders of freedom of religion or belief internationally to raise Doaa’s case and demand answers.
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB)
20 September 2026
A Libyan administrative document concerning the deportation of Doaa Ali Bashir El-Houni from Türkiye. It states that her deportation was coordinated with the Libyan Intelligence Service and that she was scheduled to arrive at Mitiga International Airport on 14 August 2026.
A public post attributed to Libya’s External Security apparatus stating that Doaa El-Houni was wanted over accusations of “spreading atheism,” had left Libya in 2021, was arrested in Türkiye and was officially returned to Libya following coordination between Libyan and Turkish authorities.