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Libyan content creator Khansa Mujahid was shot dead on Friday evening after armed assailants opened fire on her while she was inside her car in the Sarraj area, west of Tripoli, in a killing that has shocked Libyans.
Videos circulated online showed bullet holes in the car’s windows, as well as Mujahid lying on the ground after succumbing to her injuries. The motives behind the crime and the identity of those responsible remain unclear.
According to a witness appearing in a video, Mujahid tried to escape and step out of the car as the shooting began, but was targeted moments later. The witness added that her vehicle remained running for a long time after her death.
Mujahid was a well-known social media figure in Libya, particularly among women, focusing on fashion and beauty. She owned a women’s clothing business and a beauty salon.
She was also the wife of Moaz al-Manfoukh, a Zawiya leader and former member of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.
The National Human Rights Institution said that preliminary information indicates the killing was intended to target her husband, al-Manfoukh, since he was usually the one driving the car.
The institution noted possible involvement of individuals operating outside the law, affiliated with the General Security Agency and security checkpoints under the Interior Ministry of the Government of National Unity.
The institution called for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the incident, identifying those involved, and bringing them to justice. Separately, Interior Minister Emad al-Trabelsi instructed security and criminal units to open an investigation, form a specialized team, and mobilize all available resources to track down the perpetrators and refer them to the judiciary.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya condemned Mujahid’s killing, urging the authorities to conduct a rapid and transparent investigation and prosecute those responsible.
The mission said the incident highlights a troubling pattern of violence against women and the targeting of female activists in the public sphere. It cautioned against any actions that may escalate tensions and called on all parties to exercise restraint and cooperate fully with ongoing investigations.
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