Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a former senior commander at Libya’s Mitiga prison, has been transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC). He arrived in The Hague on Monday to face charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Prosecutors allege that El Hishri ordered or oversaw severe atrocities. These include murder, torture, rape, and other sexual violence against detainees between 2015 and 2020.
Transfer and Upcoming Hearing
German authorities arrested El Hishri on July 16 under a sealed international warrant. He remained in custody there until his transfer to the Netherlands this week.
The ICC confirmed that his case is expected to be the first trial of a Libyan national before the Court. They described his arrest as a major step toward accountability for crimes committed in Libyan detention centers.
A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday. During this session, judges will confirm El Hishri’s identity. They will also ensure he understands the charges and his rights.
Following this, prosecutors will present a summary of their evidence. Judges will then decide if the case should proceed to a full trial. This process is likely to take several months.
Context of the Investigation
The ICC opened its investigation in Libya in 2011. This followed a UN Security Council referral during the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.
Although rebels killed Gaddafi before his arrest, the Court remains active. It has issued warrants for nine other Libyan suspects, including one of Gaddafi’s sons.
Earlier this year, Libya formally accepted ICC jurisdiction for crimes committed between 2011 and 2027.
El Hishri’s transfer follows a previous setback. In January, Italy arrested another Mitiga-linked suspect, Ossama Anjiem (Ossama al-Masri). However, authorities released him due to a procedural mistake. This move drew sharp criticism from human rights groups.
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