They stripped us and filmed us’ – Syrian women recount horrors of Libya and deadly Mediterranean crossing

Nour, a mother from Syria, shared her story with InfoMigrants aboard the Geo Barents rescue ship. During seven months in Libya, she, her young son, and her blind aunt were subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment, including at the infamous Abu Salim prison, where they were forced to drink sewage water. The family attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea five times.

I am Syrian, from Daraa. We left Syria on May 10, flying to Libya. We landed at Benghazi airport and were then transferred to Tobruk. We stayed there for about a month and 17 days. After that, they sent us back to Benghazi where we stayed for another month and 13 days.

We were staying in an apartment, then transferred to Sabratha, where we stayed for seven months. During those seven months, we suffered a lot trying to cross the sea. We tried five times. One time, we spent 17 hours at sea before being sent back.