Situation in Libya: Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri arrested for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes

On 16 July 2025, Mr Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a national of Libya, was arrested by the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued under seal by Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "the Court") on 10 July 2025. Mr Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri is alleged to have been one of the most senior Mitiga Prison officials, where thousands of persons were detained for prolonged periods. He is suspected of having committed directly himself, ordered or overseen crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence, allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015 to early 2020.

The suspect, arrested upon the ICC request, will remain in the custody of the German authorities pending the completion of the national proceedings as foreseen in article 59 of the Rome Statute.

"The ICC continues to prioritise stronger internal coordination and deeper external cooperation to implement judicial orders and arrest warrants, which are essential steps for proceedings to move forward and for victims to see justice delivered," said the ICC Registrar Osvaldo Zavala Giler. "I thank the national authorities for their strong and consistent cooperation with the Court, including leading to this recent arrest."

Background: The situation in Libya was referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council in its resolution 1970 dated 26 February 2011. On 3 March 2011, the Prosecutor announced the decision to open an investigation in the situation in Libya. On 12 May 2025, Libya accepted of the Court's jurisdiction over its territory from 2011 to the end of 2027. Eight other public ICC arrest warrants are still pending in the context of this situation against Mr Osama Elmasry Njeem, Mr Abdurahem Khalefa Abdurahem Elshgagi, Mr Makhlouf Makhlouf Arhoumah Doumah, Mr Nasser Muhammad Muftah Daou, Mr Mohamed Mohamed Al Salheen Salmi, Mr Abdelbari Ayyad Ramadan Al Shaqaqi, Mr Fathi Faraj Mohamed Salim Al Zinkal and Mr Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi.

Further information on this situation is available here.

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]

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