ICC seeks answers after Italy frees Libyan war crimes suspect

23/1/2025 6:36

The International Criminal Court demanded answers from Italy on Wednesday over why it freed a Libyan man suspected of crimes against humanity and war

crimes, including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence.



Italy detained Osama Elmasry Njeem, also known as Osama Almasri Njeem, on Sunday in Turin after receiving a tipoff from The Hague-based ICC, which had issued an international arrest warrant against him.



However, the Italian government unexpectedly freed him on Tuesday because of a legal technicality, an Interior Ministry source said. He was immediately flown on an official state aircraft to Tripoli, where he received a hero's welcome.



The ICC, which has been investigating alleged serious crimes committed in Libya since the country's 2011 civil war, said in a statement it had urged Italy to contact its staff if there were any problems with the arrest process.



However, it said Njeem had been let go without prior notice or consultation.