The International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched an inquiry into Italy’s decision to release a Libyan warlord suspected of torture, murder, and rape instead of extraditing him to The Hague.
Italian authorities arrested Ossama Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, in Turin on January 19, 2025, under an ICC arrest warrant. However, just two days later, Italy’s court of appeals ordered his release due to a technical issue with the warrant’s transmission.
Rather than sending him to the Netherlands, Italy repatriated al-Masri to Libya aboard a military aircraft.
The ICC’s spokesperson, Fadi El Abdallah, confirmed on Monday that the court is reviewing Italy’s non-compliance with the extradition request. Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio defended the government’s decision, claiming the ICC warrant was flawed and inconsistent.
Al-Masri is accused of leading a network of detention centers run by Libya’s Special Defense Force, a militia implicated in human rights violations. His trial at the ICC could have drawn scrutiny to Italy’s migration policies and its financial support for Libya’s coast guard, which intercepts migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
The case has sparked political controversy in Italy, with opposition lawmakers criticizing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government for undermining international justice.
