Italy’s Justice Minister, Carlo Nordio, has justified the release of Libyan military officer Osama Elmasry Njeem, who was wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes.
Nordio attributed the release to mistakes and inaccuracies in the ICC’s arrest warrant. Njeem was detained in Italy but released and flown back to Tripoli due to the warrant’s inconsistencies.
The release has sparked outrage among Italian opposition parties and led to a legal investigation into Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and several ministers.
The ICC has demanded an explanation for Njeem’s release, stating that Rome failed to consult with the court before letting him go.