The families of 35 Egyptian fishermen have been living in fear for the past nine months, not knowing the fate of their relatives who were captured by the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) while working in Libyan territorial waters, said the head of the Egyptian fishermen's union, Ahmad Nassar.

In a phone call with Al-Monitor, Nassar expressed his concerns about the detained fishermen's detention conditions amid the coronavirus outbreak. He said, “The families of the fishermen lost contact with them in November, and after digging for information, we found out they were detained in Tourmina prison under the GNA’s control in the Libyan city of Misrata. They have no knowledge of the charges against them. They work according to documented contracts and without violating any laws.”

Nassar revealed to Al-Monitor that 35 fishermen from various Egyptian villages and governorates were arrested, including 13 from Sokari village in Metoubes city in Kafr el-Sheikh governorate, seven from Berj Mghayzel and 15 from Abu Qir in Alexandria. He said that they asked for help from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and wider government and that they contacted the consulate before falling silent. 

Hopes were revived recently after a number of the captives managed to contact relatives in Egypt.