Imam Musa al-Sadr’s family call on Russia to press Libya for Shia cleric’s fate

The family of Lebanon’s prominent Shia cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr, who went missing in Libya with two companions more than four decades ago, has called on Russia to impose pressure on authorities in the North African country to determine the fate of the distinguished Islamic figure.

Sadr’s family made the plea in a meeting with the Russian president’s special representative for Middle East and Africa Affairs, Mikhail Bogdanov, who also serves as deputy foreign minister, during the last day of their visit to Moscow on Thursday, according to Russia’s state-owned news agency Sputnik. 

The family was reported to have demanded Moscow's pressure on Tripoli to implement the 2014 judicial memorandum and announce the results of the case of the disappearance of Imam Musa al-Sadr, the founder of Lebanon’s Amal Movement.

In the meeting, the family asked Bogdanov to use Russia’s influence to pressure the Libyan government to cooperate in the high-profile case of Sadr and his two companions.

"We have the right to reach Imam Sayyed Musa al-Sadr and his brothers, His Eminence Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoub and Mr. Abbas Badreddine, who were unjustly and falsely kidnapped in 1978, and since then we have not rested and will not rest until they return to us, God willing, safely,” said Imam's son, Sadr al-Din al-Sadr.

“In 2024, we found that our beloved brothers in Russia have influence in Libya and can help us open the door to cooperation that the Libyans have closed for years. They have promised us a lot but have not fulfilled their promise," he added. 

Libyan delegation to visit Lebanon over Imam Musa al-Sadr’s disappearance case

A Libyan delegation is expected to visit Beirut to discuss with Lebanese officials the case of the disappearance of prominent Lebanese Shia leader Imam Musa Sadr.

Lebanese judge Hassan Shami, the rapporteur of the official follow-up committee on the missing of Sadr, said it became clear in the meeting that Bogdanov is aware of the situation in the Middle East and Lebanon and the kidnapping of Sadr.

“We stressed our demand that Russia, as a powerful and influential player in Libya, pressure the Libyan side to implement the judicial agreement signed in 2014. So far, despite all the promises, Libya has not implemented any of this memorandum,” Shami said.

“We emphasized to the Russian side that we want to receive the file of the Libyan investigation and this is our right. We want them to provide us with the information that the Libyan side has. Also, it is our right that Libya gives us everything that leads us to the whereabouts of the Imam and his two companions.”

Imam Musa al-Sadr was a prominent Shia cleric of Iranian descent, who founded the Lebanese Amal (Hope) Movement in 1974. He came to Lebanon in 1959 to work for the rights of Shia Muslims in the port city of Tyre, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Beirut. 

The cleric disappeared on August 31, 1978, during an official visit to the Libyan capital Tripoli. 

Lebanon still holds former Libyan officials responsible for the disappearance of the trio.

Since Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011, Lebanon and Iran have repeatedly called on the Libyan government to launch an investigation into Sadr's disappearance. 

Hannibal Gaddafi, held in custody in Lebanon, faces charges of withholding information regarding Sadr’s case.

In August 2016, Sadr's family filed a lawsuit against Gaddafi over his role in the disappearance of the senior Shia cleric.

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