Al-Sadek Hamed Al-Shuwehdy

Al-Sadek Hamed Al-Shuwehdy (or Sadiq Hamed Shwehdi) (c. 1954 – June 5, 1984) was a Libyan college student and aeronautical engineer who was publicly executed at the conclusion of a show trial at a basketball stadium in Benghazi, Libya. The trial and execution were broadcast live on Libyan state television.

Background

Born around 1954, Al-Shuwehdy grew up in Benghazi. His early years were marked by a rapidly changing landscape, as Libya transitioned from a monarchy under the Senussi dynasty to the regime of Muammar Gaddafi in 1969. Despite the unstable environment, Al-Shuwehdy's family encouraged his academic pursuits, leading him to develop a keen interest in aeronautical engineering. In 1976, he took part in the protests in Benghazi.

Al-Shuwehdy travelled to the United States to work as an engineer, where he immersed himself in his studies. The educational experience in America was transformative for Al-Shuwehdy, providing him with a deep understanding of aeronautical engineering and exposing him to democratic ideals and the importance of civil liberties.

Upon completing his studies, Al-Shuwehdy returned to Libya in 1984, and immediately began campaigning against Gaddafi's regime. Al-Shuwehdy was alone in the centre of the stadium, seated on the court with his hands bound behind his back, a microphone placed before him. He wept as he confessed to his crime of joining the "stray dogs"; this was Gaddafi’s terminology for dissidents, before being sentenced to death.

Al-Shuwehdy's execution happened a month after a raid on Gaddafi's Bab al-Azizia compound carried out by the National Front for the Salvation of Libya with the backing of the CIA. Al-Shuwehdy's cousin Magdi was killed in the raid. In the aftermath, 2,000 people were arrested and twelve were publicly hanged in their home towns. Other hangings were later broadcast, and re-broadcast, on Libyan state television. Bouckaert was assisted by British photographer Tim Hetherington. It was the last project that Hetherington was working on at the time of his death. The trial was viewed live on television by many Libyans but had not been seen in full since 1984. The footage of the trial was given to Bouckaert by Al-Shuwehdy's brother Ibrahim, who gave four Beta video tapes to be digitized and preserved.