Latest news with #Resolution1970
Libya Observer
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Libya Observer
International Criminal Court unseals arrest warrant for Libyan national Saif Sneidel
The International Criminal Court's (ICC) "Pre-Trial Chamber I" announced on Friday that it has lifted the confidentiality on an arrest warrant issued on November 10, 2020, for Saif Suleiman Sneidel. ICC said Sneidel is a Libyan national and a member of 'Group 50,' a sub-unit of the Al-Saiqa Brigade commanded by Mahmoud Al-Werfalli, referred to since May 2017 as a 'Field Commander' and, since February 2018, as a first lieutenant. The court said Sneidel is wanted for war crimes, including murder, torture and outrages upon personal dignity, allegedly committed in Benghazi or surrounding areas in Libya on or before June 3, 2016, through on or about July 17, 2017. The UN Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the ICC prosecutor under Resolution 1970, dated February 26, 2011. On March 3, 2011, the prosecutor announced the decision to open an investigation into the Libya situation. According to the court, eight other public arrest warrants issued by the ICC remain outstanding for Osama Najim, Abdulrahim Al-Shaqaqi, Makhlouf Douma, Nasser Dhou, Mohammed Salmi, Abdulbari Al-Shaqaqi, Fathi Al-Zankal and Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi. ICC also noted that German authorities arrested another Libyan national, Khaled Al-Haishri, on July 16, 2025, pursuant to a sealed arrest warrant issued by the Pre-Trial Chamber I. He remains in German custody pending completion of national proceedings under Article 59 of the Rome Statute.
Libya Herald
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Libya Herald
Office of the ICC Prosecutor welcomes unsealing of arrest warrant on Libya accused of war crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced yesterday that its Office of the Prosecutor welcomed the unsealing of the arrest warrant for Libyan suspect Saif Suleiman Sneidel. Sneidel is accused of the war crimes of murder, outrages upon personal dignity and torture in eastern Libya in the context of a non-international armed conflict. Mr Sneidel was an officer of Group 50 in the Al-Saiqa Brigade, which participated in an operation launched by the so-called Libyan National Army in Benghazi, known as Operation Dignity, in May 2014. In issuing the arrest warrant in November 2020, the ICC said the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Sneidel participated in three executions where a total of 23 people were murdered. These executions took place on or before 3 June 2016, on or before 19 June 2017, and on or about 17 July 2017, in Benghazi or surrounding areas. The Chamber also concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Sneidel is criminally responsible for torture. The original decision, like the Office's application filed in May 2020, was under seal to maximise arrest opportunities and to minimise risks to an ongoing criminal investigation. For this reason, no details of the application or warrant could be provided until this stage, the ICC explained. The Office of the Prosecutor however requested in July 2025 to unseal the warrant due to changes in circumstances, and to increase prospects for arrest. 'The judges' decision to unseal the warrant improves chances of arrest. The Court can now discuss issues related to possible arrest with States, the UN Security Council, and the international community at large, fostering support and cooperation. We hope to create the momentum for Mr Sneidel's arrest and surrender,' said Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan. The Office calls on Libyan authorities to execute the arrest warrant, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), which referred the Situation in Libya to the ICC. The OTP seeks to work closely with the Registry and the Court's partners to help secure the suspect's arrest. The Sneidel case falls under alleged crimes related to the 2014-2020 operations, demonstrating the Office's commitment to seek accountability for Libyan victims across multiple lines of inquiry. The investigation into Libya follows four key lines of inquiry: the 2011 violence, crimes in detention facilities, crimes related to the 2014-2020 operations, and crimes against migrants. As the Office pledged to the UN Security Council, the Libya situation continues to be a significant priority. On 16 July 2025, another suspect in the Situation in Libya, Mr Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, was arrested by authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany pursuant to an ICC warrant of arrest for crimes in detention facilities. The case against Mr Sneidel is closely connected to that of deceased ICC suspect Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli. The Prosecution alleges that Mr Sneidel was a close associate of Mr Al-Werfalli, and had an important leadership role alongside him in the Al-Saiqa Brigade. Prior to his death, Mr Al-Werfalli was the subject of two ICC arrest warrants for eight executions in Benghazi, three of which the Prosecution alleges Mr Sneidel participated in. The Office expresses its gratitude to victims and witnesses for their courage and determination to cooperate with the investigation. 'Our Office remains deeply committed to deliver accountability for victims of atrocities in Libya. Results of our work are because of and for them. With their commitment, and with the cooperation and support of all partners, we can make inroads in fighting impunity in Libya and across all situations,' said Deputy Prosecutor Khan.
Libyan Express
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
El Hishri arrest marks first ICC development in Libya case
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri. Photo via Reuters A coalition of international human rights organisations, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), has called on all governments—particularly those involved in Libya—to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) following the recent arrest of a Libyan national accused of serious crimes under international law. In a joint statement sent to Libyan Express, the organisations welcomed the arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, known as 'Al-Buti', by German authorities at Berlin Brandenburg Airport on 16 July 2025, based on an ICC arrest warrant. The groups praised Germany for what they described as a swift and responsible move that could mark a turning point in the ICC's long-running investigation into crimes committed in Libya. El Hishri is alleged to have held a senior position at Mitiga Prison, one of Libya's most controversial detention centres, operated by the Special Deterrence Force for Combating Terrorism and Organized Crime (commonly known as Al-Radaa), a powerful security entity affiliated with the Libyan Presidential Council. According to the ICC, El Hishri is suspected of committing or facilitating crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence, between 2015 and 2020. The charges relate to acts allegedly committed against detainees—both Libyans and non-Libyans—during a period marked by escalating conflict and institutional fragmentation across the country. 'This arrest offers a rare opportunity to re-energise the stalled path to accountability in Libya,' the coalition said. 'It is also a message to survivors that international justice mechanisms are still functioning, even when national courts cannot act.' This marks the first arrest under the ICC's Libya investigation that is expected to lead to formal proceedings in The Hague. The move comes more than a decade after the United Nations Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the Court through Resolution 1970 (2011), in response to widespread violence and reported abuses during the country's uprising and subsequent conflict. However, the human rights groups expressed concern over inconsistent cooperation from states. They cited the case of Osama Elmasry Njeem, another senior member of Al-Radaa, who was arrested by Italian authorities in January 2025 on similar charges related to Mitiga Prison. Instead of surrendering him to the ICC, Italy returned him to Libya, where he was reportedly received by both government figures and armed groups. The ICC is currently reviewing whether Italy violated its obligations under the Rome Statute by failing to hand over the suspect. 'Such actions undermine the credibility of international justice efforts and send the wrong message to victims and perpetrators alike,' the statement noted. The coalition urged Libyan authorities—across all regions and institutions—to meet their obligations under international law, including the arrest and surrender of individuals subject to ICC warrants. Despite repeated requests, successive governments in both eastern and western Libya have failed to fully cooperate with the ICC. The groups also drew attention to the ongoing suffering of detainees in official and unofficial detention centres across Libya, where arbitrary detention, torture, extortion, and sexual violence remain widespread. Many of these abuses, they said, are committed with near-total impunity by armed groups, state-linked forces, and local militias. They called on the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor to broaden its investigation and pursue accountability for a wider range of actors—including both Libyan and non-Libyan individuals—who have contributed to or enabled serious violations. 'For Libya to move forward, justice must apply to all, regardless of affiliation or position,' the statement concluded. 'Accountability is not only about the past—it is also about preventing future abuses and restoring trust in the rule of law.'
Libya Review
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
International Criminal Court Pressures Libya to Hand Over Fugitives
The Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) described the arrest of Khaled El Hishri, a senior commander of Libya's Special Deterrence Forces (Rada), in Germany as a 'significant step' towards accountability for crimes committed in Libyan detention centres. In a statement to Arabi21, the ICC Prosecutor's Office stressed that Libya remains under the Court's jurisdiction, citing UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011). The office stated: 'Libya formally accepted the ICC's jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory from 2011 until the end of 2027.' The remarks came in response to comments by authorities in Benghazi claiming they were not obligated to hand over suspects since Libya is not an ICC member. 'Libya has the right to challenge admissibility of cases before the Court, but it has not done so,' the Prosecutor's Office added. The ICC emphasised that it is not in conflict with Libyan authorities and welcomed cooperation to end impunity for international crimes, particularly those committed against migrants and detainees in Libyan facilities. The office also urged the international community and the UN Security Council to assist in executing pending arrest warrants and supporting investigations into Libya's situation. El Hishri, also known as Mohamed Ali El Hishri, was arrested by German authorities on 18 July 2025. He is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to his role at the notorious Mitiga prison in Tripoli between February 2015 and early 2020. The ICC confirmed that El Hishri will remain in German custody pending legal procedures. Investigators allege he bears criminal responsibility for systematic abuses in detention centres, which have long been criticised by international organisations for torture, unlawful detention, and other serious violations. Tags: iccKhaled El HishrilibyaOsama NajimWar Crimes
Libyan Express
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Libyan Express
German authorities detain Libyan suspect on ICC warrant
Khaled Al‑Hishri arrested over alleged crimes in Libya detention facility The International Criminal Court (ICC) has welcomed the arrest of Khaled Mohamed Ali Al‑Hishri , a senior Libyan official, by German authorities on 16 July 2025, following the issuance of a sealed arrest warrant in connection with alleged atrocities committed in Libya. Al‑Hishri, a high-ranking commander within the Special Deterrence Forces, is accused of overseeing the notorious Mitiga Prison in Tripoli, where thousands of individuals were reportedly detained in degrading and abusive conditions. Between February 2015 and early 2020, he is alleged to have played a central role in a campaign of serious violations, including murder, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. The Office of the Prosecutor submitted its request for an arrest warrant on 3 April 2025. On 10 July 2025, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC issued the warrant, concluding that there were reasonable grounds to believe Al‑Hishri bears individual criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in or around Mitiga Prison. Al‑Hishri remains in German custody while national proceedings take place under Article 59 of the Rome Statute, pending a potential transfer to the Court's detention facility in The Hague. The ICC described the arrest as a significant milestone in its investigation into the situation in Libya — the first arrest to stem from its focused efforts on crimes committed in detention facilities. This development is part of a broader strategy grounded in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), with Libya having accepted the Court's jurisdiction through to the end of 2027. 'This arrest marks a crucial step towards justice for victims of grave crimes committed in Libyan detention centres,' the Prosecutor's Office stated. 'It reflects the determination of our unified Libya team and the courage of those who provided evidence at great personal risk.' The investigation has been led by the ICC's Unified Libya Team, under the direction of Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan, with support from the Registry and the Court's Tracking and Information Integration Section. The Office expressed its deep appreciation to the Libyan victims and witnesses whose cooperation was essential to the investigation. It also commended the German authorities for their swift and effective execution of the arrest warrant. Looking ahead, the Office reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with national governments, regional organisations, and affected communities to uphold justice for crimes falling under the Rome Statute. The arrest of Khaled Al‑Hishri is expected to mark the beginning of formal judicial proceedings in the ICC's Libya case, setting a powerful precedent in the ongoing fight against impunity for international crimes.
