Libyans flee by boat amid 'terrible' violence at home
Hamza Tekbali
The crew of the Seefuchs plucked them from the old fishing boat  gave them water and couscous and one of the men  26-year-old Hamza Tekbali  explained why they had fled their country.
âLibya is terrible â  Tekbali  told Reuters as  he  waited to be transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel. âIn Libya  if you do not kill  they will kill you â  he  said  adding that  he  feared  he  would be sent straight back home.
 Tekbali  abandoned  his  hometown of Kikla  which is located southwest of Tripoli and said it was too dangerous to return.
 His  friend Rafat  who did not give  his  last name  said  he  was fleeing Libya after having been kidnapped by a militia in 2016.  He  was released after nine days when  his  father paid a ransom of 120 000 dinar ($87 600) but said  he  feared a repeat.
 Tekbali  said the five friends planned their voyage for a month and set out from a beach between Sabratha and Zuwara after paying 5 000 euros ($5 888) to smugglers for the boat and the small outboard engine.
The crew of the Seefuchs plucked them from the old fishing boat  gave them water and couscous and one of  [TGT] explained why  [TGT]  had fled  [TGT]  country.
âLibya is terrible â   [TGT] told Reuters as   [TGT]   waited to be transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel. âIn Libya  if you do not kill  they will kill you â   [TGT]   said  adding that   [TGT]   feared   [TGT]   would be sent straight back home.
  [TGT] abandoned   [TGT]   hometown of Kikla  which is located southwest of Tripoli and said it was too dangerous to return.
  [TGT]   friend Rafat  who did not give   [TGT]   last name  said   [TGT]   was fleeing Libya after having been kidnapped by a militia in 2016.   [TGT]   was released after nine days when   [TGT]   father paid a ransom of 120 000 dinar ($87 600) but said  he  feared a repeat.
  [TGT] said the five friends planned their voyage for a month and set out from a beach between Sabratha and Zuwara after paying 5 000 euros ($5 888) to smugglers for the boat and the small outboard engine.