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Libya Detains Osama Njeem Almasri on Torture Charges, Refers Case to Trial

The long-sought ICC suspect was returned to Tripoli by Italy in January, a decision now fueling legal and political repercussions.

Overview

  • Libya’s Prosecutor General ordered Almasri’s arrest in Tripoli, placed him in preventive detention, and announced his referral to trial.
  • An official statement says investigations documented torture of at least ten detainees at Tripoli’s Mitiga facility and the death of one prisoner, citing interrogations and collected evidence.
  • Almasri, described as a former head of the judicial police linked to Tripoli’s detention system, is accused of abuses committed while overseeing prison operations.
  • It remains unclear whether proceedings will continue in Libyan courts or if he could be surrendered to the International Criminal Court.
  • Lawyers for alleged victims say they will seek damages from the Italian state over his January release and repatriation, a move that sparked probes later curtailed by court and parliamentary decisions.