On 18 January 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for the arrest of Osama Elmasry Njeem, also known as Osama Almasri Njeem, in connection with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Libya. Njeem, who allegedly oversaw prison facilities in Tripoli, is accused of involvement in atrocities including murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence from February 2015 onwards. The crimes are specifically linked to Mitiga Prison, where thousands of individuals were detained for extended periods.
The ICC warrant details multiple charges, including war crimes such as outrages upon personal dignity, cruel treatment, and murder, as well as crimes against humanity such as imprisonment, torture, rape, and persecution. These offenses were allegedly committed by Njeem and members of the Special Deterrence Forces (SDF/RADA), a group known for its extreme actions. Victims were allegedly detained for various reasons, including their religious beliefs, perceived moral transgressions, or affiliations with rival armed groups.
On 19 January 2025, Njeem was located and arrested in Turin, Italy. However, following his detention, the ICC was notified on 21 January 2025 that Njeem had been released and transported back to Libya, despite the Court’s ongoing engagement with Italian authorities to ensure proper legal procedures were followed.
The situation in Libya was referred to the ICC by the United Nations Security Council in 2011, and several other ICC arrest warrants remain outstanding related to crimes committed during the Libyan conflict. The ICC has reiterated the importance of full cooperation from States Parties in executing arrest warrants and assisting in the Court’s investigations.
The Court is continuing its efforts to verify the circumstances surrounding Njeem’s release and is calling on Libyan authorities to cooperate fully in ensuring accountability for the alleged crimes.
