ICC Queries Italy After Libyan War Crimes Suspect Was Freed

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday demanded answers from Italy 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.

The suspect 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.

“The Court is seeking, and is yet to obtain, verification from the authorities on the steps reportedly taken,” the ICC said.

Neither Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office nor the Justice Ministry has commented on the case, which is likely to cause the government deep embarrassment.

The Interior Ministry source said Njeem was freed because local police had not immediately informed the Justice Ministry as required.

Njeem’s release was a blow for the ICC, which is facing ferocious pushback in the United States after issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister over Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

“The Court recalls the duty of all (member states) to cooperate fully with the Court in its investigations and prosecutions of crimes,” the ICC statement said.