Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper has confirmed the authenticity of the leaked images and videos of the member of the House of Representatives (HoR) Ibrahim al-Dressi.
The newspaper explained that it conducted an in-depth analysis of the elements shown in the photos and videos using specialized platforms, all of which confirmed their authenticity and that they were not fabricated.
It also noted that it had managed to reach a member of Al-Dressi's family, who confirmed the video’s authenticity based on identifiable marks on the MP’s body known to the family, which were clearly visible in the footage.
The newspaper revealed that it attempted to contact several officials in eastern Libya. However, one MP said they had received explicit threats not to speak to the media about the case and declined to be named, expressing fear of meeting the same fate as MP Al-Dressi and MP Siham Sergewa, both of whom were subjected to pressure by the authorities, according to the newspaper.
Local sources told Al-Quds Al-Arabi that security forces arrested four young men from the Dressi tribe, after a video circulated on Monday afternoon showing them calling on members of the tribe to attend a major tribal meeting scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, to discuss developments in MP Al-Dressi's case and the recently leaked footage.
At noon on May 5, social media was flooded with footage showing MP Al-Dressi stripped of his clothes with shackles around his neck, pleading with Khalifa Haftar and his son Saddam to release him.
The incident sparked both local and international reactions, with calls to uncover those responsible and verify the authenticity of the leaked footage. Meanwhile, statements from Haftar’s media and affiliated authorities gave conflicting accounts—some claiming the footage was AI-generated, and others saying Al-Dressi had been abducted by an unknown group affiliated with an organized gang.
