Listen "Libya's Brothers from Hell"
Episode Synopsis
Amid the anarchy of post-Revolution Libya, seven ruthless brothers from an obscure background gradually took over their home town near Tripoli. They're accused of murdering entire families to instill fear and to build power and wealth. They created their own militia which threw in its lot, at different times, with various forces in Libya's ongoing conflict. And they grew rich by levying taxes on the human and fuel traffickers crossing their territory. Now, the full horror of their reign of terror is being exposed: since they were driven out in June, more and more mass graves are being discovered. The Libyan authorities - and the International Criminal Court - are investigating what happened. But the four surviving Kani brothers have fled. Will they ever face justice? And what does their story tell us about why the 2011 overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi brought not democracy, but chaos, to Libya? Tim Whewell reports.
Editor: Bridget Harney
Editor: Bridget Harney
More episodes of the podcast Crossing Continents
The Netherlands - ten new cities?
13/01/2026
South Africa and the fight against TB
06/01/2026
When Christian nationalists come to town
30/12/2025
Argentina's elusive big cats
23/12/2025
Stolen brides of Kazakhstan: the fightback
16/12/2025
The struggle of Israel's peace movement
09/12/2025
‘A new foe’: Conscripting women in Denmark
23/09/2025
Kenya: A Battle for Gen Z
16/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.