The International Criminal Court (ICC), human rights groups, and victims of Libyan warlord Osama Njeem have expressed on January 23 outrage over his release by Italian authorities.
Njeem, also known as al-Masri, was arrested in Turin on Sunday January 19 under a warrant issued by the ICC, only to be released on Tuesday January 21 by a Rome court due to a procedural error. He was subsequently flown back to Libya on an Italian secret service plane.
Al-Masri, who is wanted by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes—including murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence committed in Libya from 2015 onwards—heads the Tripoli branch of the notorious Reform and Rehabilitation Institution, a network of detention centres linked to the government-backed Special Defence Force. The ICC has expressed concern over Italy’s handling of the case, reminding the country of its obligation to cooperate fully with the court’s prosecutions.
David Yambio, a 27-year-old South Sudanese man who was allegedly abused by al-Masri while detained in Mitiga prison between 2019 and 2020, described the release as a “deep betrayal”. Yambio, now an activist for the Refugees in Libya network, condemned the Italian government and other European nations for their failure to shut down human trafficking hubs. He criticised Italy for allowing al-Masri to escape justice, particularly as victims like him have been waiting for accountability since 2019. The Italian government now faces pressure from opposition parties, human rights activists, and the ICC to explain its decision.