Top ICC fugitive linked to war crimes, prison abuses in Libya arrested in Germany
The allegations against El Hishri include murder, torture, and rape conducted over a five-year period starting in 2015.
El Hishri was affiliated with the Special Deterrence Force (SDF), aligned with Libya's interior ministry
He will be transferred to The Hague to face ICC proceedings
El Hishri is suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity while serving as a senior official at the Mitiga Prison complex in Tripoli, Libya. The allegations include acts of murder, torture, and rape, either carried out by him directly or under his oversight.
These crimes are believed to have occurred over a five-year period starting from 2015. There has been no public response or comment from El Hishri regarding the accusations.
The Mitiga detention facility, located in Libya's capital, has been the subject of extensive human rights concerns. Amnesty International has described it as a site of 'horrific violations committed with total impunity.'
Among those detained at Mitiga are migrants attempting to reach Europe, who are often held under brutal conditions.
El Hishri was affiliated with the Special Deterrence Force (SDF), also referred to as Rada, a group aligned with the interior ministry of the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli.
His arrest follows a broader investigation by the ICC into crimes committed during Libya's ongoing conflict.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the court has issued 11 arrest warrants related to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the country.
Ongoing ICC efforts and Libya's cooperation
The ICC's involvement began after the United Nations Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the Court in February 2011.
In its resolution, the Council condemned the use of force against civilians and widespread human rights abuses, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators.
Although 11 warrants have been issued, eight are still pending. Several suspects remain at large, including Osama Najim, also known as Almasri, who was allegedly the director of the Mitiga detention centre.
Najim was released earlier this year by Italian authorities due to what was described as a legal technicality. The ICC stated that his release occurred without its prior notice or consultation and has since issued another warrant for his arrest.
El Hishri will remain in German custody while preparations are made for his transfer to The Hague to face proceedings at the ICC. His case adds to the court's ongoing efforts to pursue accountability for crimes committed during Libya's post-2011 turmoil.
In a statement, the ICC expressed gratitude to the Libyan victims and witnesses who contributed to the investigation, acknowledging their courage and cooperation as instrumental to recent developments.
In May 2025, Libya formally accepted the ICC's jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory from 2011 through the end of 2027. The country remains politically divided, with power fragmented between rival governments and militia-controlled territories since Gaddafi's ousting.
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