Italy’s Justice Minister Carlo Nordio confirmed that the release of Libyan war crimes suspect Osama Almasri Najim resulted from substantial inaccuracies in an ICC arrest warrant. Najim, facing serious allegations of abuse, was released shortly after his detention, prompting widespread condemnation. The incident has ignited a political crisis, with ongoing investigations into the government’s handling of the case and broader implications for migration policies involving Libya.
Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio announced that Rome had no choice but to release Osama Almasri Najim, a Libyan war crimes suspect, due to significant errors in an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Mr. Najim, the head of Libya’s judicial police, was detained in Turin on January 19 but was released two days later and returned to Tripoli on an Italian military aircraft. He faces numerous allegations, including murder, rape, and torture tied to his involvement at Tripoli’s Mitiga detention center, prompting dissent from opposition parties and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
During a session in the Italian parliament, Minister Nordio criticized the ICC warrant, identifying it as filled with “inaccuracies, omissions, discrepancies, and contradictory conclusions,” which legally prevented the suspect from being detained. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi added that Mr. Najim was expelled due to being deemed a “national security risk.” After his release, images from Libyan media showcased a celebratory crowd welcoming Mr. Najim back, prompting the ICC to demand clarification from Italian authorities.
Elly Schlein, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party, accused Minister Nordio of defending a torturer rather than acting as a responsible government official. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed that her response to Mr. Najim’s release is under investigation alongside Nordio and Piantedosi by a special court designated for cases involving ministers. David Yambio, a survivor of the detention center where Mr. Najim allegedly committed abuses, claimed Italy’s actions render it complicit in ongoing atrocities in Libya.
Mr. Yambio recounted his harrowing experiences at Mitiga prison, where he suffered abuse at the hands of Mr. Najim, emphasizing that Italy’s decision to release him felt like a betrayal. Critics have raised concerns about Italy’s motivations, suggesting that political and economic ties to Libya may have influenced the decision to free Mr. Najim. Since a 2017 agreement allowing the Libyan coastguard to intercept migrants, NGOs have criticized Italy’s policies regarding migrant treatment and detention conditions in Libya.
The case remains a dominant topic in Italian media, with the investigation into the involved ministers likely yielding limited consequences, given the ruling government’s strong majority. Prime Minister Meloni described the inquiry as politically motivated intimidation from opposition forces while maintaining a firm stance against perceived judicial intimidation. Commentators suggest that Libya’s leverage in migration policy exposes vulnerabilities for Italy while raising questions about the implications of their relationship fostered by the Mattei Plan, aimed at enhancing EU-African cooperation.
In the eyes of Mr. Yambio and others who suffered abuse, the release of Mr. Najim signifies a grave betrayal. Survivors have written to Prime Minister Meloni, urging an end to the Italy-Libya migration agreement and demanding the release of those still imprisoned in Libyan detention centers, affirming their status as witnesses to Mr. Najim’s alleged crimes.
In summary, the Italian government faced significant backlash after releasing Osama Almasri Najim, a Libyan war crimes suspect, citing inaccuracies in the ICC warrant. Opposition leaders and survivors of his alleged abuse criticized this decision, viewing it as a betrayal and indicator of Italy’s complicity in Libyan atrocities. Amid ongoing investigations into the motivations behind Najim’s release, the relationship between Italy and Libya raises deeper issues regarding migration policy and humanitarian concerns.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
