Germany hands over Libyan war crimes suspect to ICC for trial.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands A Libyan national accused of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes while detained in a Tripoli prison has been extradited from Germany to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face trial.

ICC prosecutors claim that Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri held a senior command position at Mitiga prison, where he allegedly directed or oversaw acts including murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence from 2015 to 2020. German authorities arrested him on July 16 under a sealed warrant issued by the Hague-based court, and he remained in custody in Germany until his transfer on Monday, according to the ICC.

The court's prosecution office previously described El Hishris arrest as a significant step toward holding perpetrators accountable for abuses in Libyan detention facilities. This upcoming trial would mark the first time the ICC hears a case involving a Libyan suspect.

El Hishri will appear in an ICC courtroom shortly, where judges will confirm his identity, inform him of the charges, and ensure he understands his legal rights. A preliminary hearing will then be set, during which prosecutors present their evidence and judges decide whether the case should proceed to trial. This procedure is expected to take several months.

The United Nations Security Council requested the ICC investigate crimes in Libya in 2011, amid an uprising that eventually overthrew long-time leader Moammar Gadhafi and sparked a prolonged civil conflict. While the court issued an arrest warrant for Gadhafi, he was killed by rebels before facing justice. Currently, the ICC has warrants for nine other Libyan individuals, including one of Gadhafis sons.

Earlier this year, Libya formally accepted ICC jurisdiction from 2011 until the end of 2027. In a separate case, Italian authorities detained but released one suspect, Ossama Anjiem (also known as Ossama al-Masri), in January due to a procedural issue. He too faces allegations of crimes committed at Mitiga prison.

Author: Sophia Brooks