Libya war crime suspect arrested in Germany after arrest in International Criminal Court
A Libyan man suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity was arrested on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, commonly known as “al-buti”, is one of the top officials in the capital Mitiga prison, and in the capital Tripoli, thousands of people are detained.
He is suspected of committing, ordering or supervising crimes including murder, torture and rape.
For five years since 2015, the atrocities were allegedly committed in detention centers near Tripoli. He was not recorded to comment on the allegations.
The warrant has issued 11 arrest warrants since the country’s long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi removed and killed suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The UN Security Council filed a case with the court in February 2011, and at the beginning of the protests, with the help of NATO forces, led to Gaddafi’s removal later that year.
In its referral, the Security Council condemned “violence and use of force against civilians…serious and systematic violations of human rights, including the suppression of peaceful protesters”.
It also expressed “deep concerns about civilian deaths” while “clearly refusing to incite hostility and violence against civilian acts from the Libyan government” and then under Gaddafi’s leadership.
Since Gaddafi’s overthrow, after sixty years in power, Libya has been divided into regions controlled by various militias and is currently distributed between the two rival governments.
Mr. Hishri is part of the Special Deterrence Force, also known as the SDF/RADA, in line with the Ministry of the Interior of the internationally recognized government located in Tripoli.
Thousands of people, including migrants trying to reach Europe, were kept in detention centres in Libya, usually under cruel conditions [Getty Images]
On May 12, 2025, Libya accepted ICC jurisdiction over its territory from 2011 to the end of 2027.
Eight other public ICC warrants are still related to the violence following Gaddafi’s collapse.
Earlier this year, Italy had controversially released Osama Najim – also known as Almasri, who is allegedly a director of the Mitiga Detention Centre.
Amnesty International said the Mitiga prison was a scene of “a terrible violation of total impunity”.
Some of Mitiga are immigrants trying to reach Europe.
Sources from the Italian Interior said Mr. Najim was released due to legal technology.
The International Criminal Court said Mr. Najim had been released by Italy, “without prior notice or consultation with the court” and issued another warrant to him. He is still a fugitive.
Mr. Hishri will be detained in Germany until he is arranged to be detained for ICC and extradition to The Hague Justice.
The International Criminal Court thanks “all victims and witnesses in Libya who are collaborating in investigations. Their strength, courage and commitment make these important developments possible.”
Mr. Hishri’s case will be with others to continue efforts to resolve crimes committed during the Libyan conflict, although other suspects remain large.
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