A senior Libyan prison commander has made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, facing a dozen charges for alleged atrocities committed in Tripoli.
First Appearance at The Hague
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, sat impassively in court on Wednesday as the charges against him were formally read out. The Libyan national is accused of six counts of crimes against humanity and six counts of war crimes for his alleged role in abuses at Mitiga prison between 2015 and 2020.
The charges, detailed by a court official, include murder, rape, and torture. Prosecutors allege El Hishri was a senior commander at the prison, where he personally murdered one detainee and oversaw the murder, rape, and torture of others. He did not enter a plea during the hearing.
Arrest and Path to Trial
El Hishri was transferred to the custody of the ICC on Monday after being arrested in Germany in July on a sealed warrant. During the hearing, he spoke only to confirm his identity and age before later asking the judges for provisional release as his case proceeds.
Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc instructed his defence lawyer to submit a formal written request for any release. The court has scheduled a crucial confirmation of charges hearing for 19 May 2025. This hearing will determine if the evidence is substantial enough to proceed to a full trial.
Broader Context of Libyan Cases
If the case moves forward, El Hishri would become the first Libyan suspect to stand trial at the ICC. The court's investigation into Libya was mandated by the United Nations Security Council in 2011, following the uprising that overthrew dictator Moammar Gadhafi and plunged the nation into chaos.
The ICC had issued a warrant for Gadhafi, but he was killed by rebels before he could be apprehended. The court still has outstanding arrest warrants for nine other Libyan suspects, including one of Gadhafi's sons.
The case highlights the challenges of international justice. In a related incident earlier this year, Italy arrested another suspect linked to Mitiga prison, Ossama Anjiem (also known as Ossama al-Masri), only to release him on a technicality—a move that provoked condemnation from human rights groups.
