Latest news with #OsamaElmasryNjeem
Libya Herald
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Herald
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Libya report to UN Security Council
During his live 25-minute report by video link on Libya to the UN Security Council, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan: Demanded that Libya's Attorney General, Siddig Al-Sour, arrest Osama Elmasry Njeem of Libya's Judicial Police in charge of Mitiga Prison, and hand him over to the International Criminal Court on charges of committing crimes against humanity and torturing prisoners in Mitiga prison. Revealed that the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) is cooperating with the ICC, is continuing to investigate Njeem, and has frozen funds belonging to Njeem in Britain worth £12 million. Revealed that Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, has officially dissolved the Special Deterrence Force (SDF / RADA) led by Abdelraouf Kara and that he has removed Ngeem from his post as head of the Judicial Police. Reported that the monitored movement of Militia leaders all over Libya has indicated that they are now concerned by ICC work in attempting to arrest them. Reported that the torture videos of missing MP Dersi are authentic. Said the act by Tripoli PM Aldabaiba to dissolve militias right now in these circumstances is historic. Said it is an opportunity to put a stop to these types of crimes. Said it is essential that states cooperate to remove the sense of impunity that militias, security personnel etc feel they enjoy in Libya. Reported that the ICC will complete the Tarhuna crimes and Mitiga prison crimes investigative reports by the end 2025 and Q1 of 2026. Announced that Libya has formally accepted the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over crimes committed inside Libya from 2011 until the end of 2027. The Osama Njeem saga with Italy It will be recalled that the ICC had announced the issuance of a warrant of arrest against Osama Elmasry Njeem on 18 January 2025 (under seal, made public on 12 February 2025) for several war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Tripoli's Mitiga Prison. These crimes were allegedly committed from February 2015 to October 2024, and included murder, torture, rape and sexual violence against Libyan nationals and migrants. The ICC said this represents the first arrest warrant publicly issued by its Pre-Trial Chamber stemming from the Office's investigations into alleged crimes in Mitiga prison. On the day the arrest warrant was issued, 18 January 2025, the ICC transmitted the warrant of arrest to Italy and requested his arrest under article 92 of the Rome Statute. On 19 January 2025, Osama Elmasry Njeem was arrested by police in Italy. On 21 January 2025, Italy released the suspect from custody and flew him back to Libya. . ICC issues arrest warrant against Osama Njeem for crimes against humanity, war crimes – Njeem briefly arrested in Italy, freed and transported to Tripoli – without ICC's approval UNSMIL calls for independent investigation into HoR member Dersi's disappearance and circulating torture video
The National
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Libya recognises authority of ICC to investigate war crimes on its territory
Libya has recognised the authority of the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes on its territory, even though it is not a party to the court's founding treaty, chief prosecutor Karim Khan said on Thursday. "I strongly welcome the courage, the leadership and the decision by the Libyan authorities" to accept the ICC's jurisdiction over possible war crimes and repression committed in the country, Mr Khan said. Speaking to the UN Security Council by video, the chief prosecutor told of progress in uncovering what he called "a black box of suffering on the Mediterranean coast", referring to detention centres where alleged crimes have taken place. He highlighted Libyan authorities' stated commitment to co-operate with the court and called for the handover of a suspect accused of grave crimes against detainees, including migrants and refugees. In particular, he told of "an unprecedented six months of dynamism", pointing to the arrest in January of Osama Elmasry Njeem, a commander in the disbanded Special Deterrence Force. Mr Njeem, who ran the Mitiga detention centre, is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and torture against migrants. He was briefly detained in Italy in January but was released two days later on "procedural grounds" and returned to Libya. 'There was real disappointment amongst victims that Mr Njeem has been returned to the scene of the alleged crimes,' said Mr Khan. He urged Libyan authorities to hand over Mr Njeem to the ICC so he can stand trial for the crimes that were listed in the warrant. Libya has been under ICC investigation since 2011, when the Security Council referred the case to the court amid the uprising that toppled long-time leader Muammar Qaddafi. The ICC opened its probe days later. In November 2023, Mr Khan said his office aimed to conclude investigative work in Libya by the end of 2025, after which no further arrest warrants would be sought. The ICC has issued warrants for 12 people linked to alleged crimes during Libya's 2011 revolution, the 2014-2020 conflict and abuses in detention centres, including against migrants. Three of those wanted have since died, while eight remain fugitives. The court dismissed the case against Mr Qaddafi's former intelligence chief, Abdullah Al Senussi, ruling it inadmissible. Libyan authorities have failed to arrest and transfer any ICC suspects since 2011, stalling efforts to deliver justice. The Security Council has not acted on the court's past requests to enforce co-operation from Libya. Mr Khan's briefing came after US President Donald Trump's February 6 executive order authorising sanctions against ICC officials, including the chief prosecutor. Washington's acting alternate representative to the UN, John Kelley, condemned the ICC as a "politicised" body, accusing it of bias against the US and Israel. "The ICC has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel," Mr Kelley said, warning that Mr Trump's sanctions order would bring "tangible and significant consequences" for those involved in the court's decisions. The ICC in November approved arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes, including restricting aid and attacking citizens during Israel's Gaza offensive. Nine Security Council members – France, Britain, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia, all ICC signatories – opposed, stating that attacking the court or its personnel was "counterproductive to our shared goal of ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes".
Reuters
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
ICC judges looking into Italy's release of Libyan fugitive
THE HAGUE, Feb 10 - Judges at the International Criminal Court are investigating whether Italy's release of a Libyan military officer wanted for war crimes by the tribunal breaches the court's statute, a court spokesperson said on Monday. Last week Italy's Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Rome had no choice but to free ICC suspect Osama Elmasry Njeem because of what he described as mistakes and inaccuracies in the court's arrest warrant. Njeem was released and flown home to Tripoli two days after being detained last month in northern Italy on the back of the ICC warrant which said he was suspected of the murder, torture and rape of detainees in Libya. His release sparked outrage among Italian opposition parties and triggered a legal investigation into Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, two of her ministers and a cabinet undersecretary. The procedure now opened at the ICC could lead to Rome being referred to the court's governing body or ultimately the United Nations Security Council, which could issue reprimands. The ICC spokesperson added that Italy will get a chance to present its side of the case to judges before a decision is made, but gave no timeline for the process. The court has been investigating allegations of serious crimes committed in Libya since the country's 2011 civil war following a referral by the U.N. Security Council.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICC judges looking into Italy's release of Libyan fugitive
THE HAGUE - Judges at the International Criminal Court are investigating whether Italy's release of a Libyan military officer wanted for war crimes by the tribunal breaches the court's statute, a court spokesperson said on Monday. Last week Italy's Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said Rome had no choice but to free ICC suspect Osama Elmasry Njeem because of what he described as mistakes and inaccuracies in the court's arrest warrant. Njeem was released and flown home to Tripoli two days after being detained last month in northern Italy on the back of the ICC warrant which said he was suspected of the murder, torture and rape of detainees in Libya. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. His release sparked outrage among Italian opposition parties and triggered a legal investigation into Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, two of her ministers and a cabinet undersecretary. The procedure now opened at the ICC could lead to Rome being referred to the court's governing body or ultimately the United Nations Security Council, which could issue reprimands. The ICC spokesperson added that Italy will get a chance to present its side of the case to judges before a decision is made, but gave no timeline for the process. The court has been investigating allegations of serious crimes committed in Libya since the country's 2011 civil war following a referral by the U.N. Security Council.
