Libyan Warlord Convicted of Abuses at Detention Facility

Ekhbary News Agency | May 12, 2024

A Libyan warlord has been convicted of severe human rights violations committed at a detention facility in the country's west, authorities recently announced. The Tripoli Criminal Court handed down a sentence of seven years and four months to Ossama Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, who previously led the Tripoli branch of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution. This verdict marks a significant step in addressing accountability for past atrocities.

Details of the Conviction and Charges

According to a statement released Sunday by the attorney general's office, al-Masri was found guilty of "violating the rights of inmates" who reported experiencing "torture, cruelty, and degrading treatment." The institution he headed is part of a network of detention centers operated by the government-backed Special Defense Force (SDF), a military police unit tasked with combating crimes like kidnappings and illegal migration. However, the SDF has been implicated in various atrocities during Libya's protracted civil war. For what it's worth, this conviction underscores the ongoing struggle for justice in a nation still grappling with its turbulent past.

International Context and Controversy

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had previously issued an arrest warrant for al-Masri in January 2025, citing suspicions of "crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence, allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015 onwards." Al-Masri was apprehended in Turin, Italy, based on the ICC warrant, but Italy controversially released him on a technicality before expelling him to Libya. This decision sparked outrage among human rights groups and prompted the ICC to launch an inquiry into Italy's actions. Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio defended the release at the time, asserting that the ICC's warrant was contradictory and flawed. The Tripoli Criminal Court also ordered al-Masri to be stripped of his legal capacity and civil rights for the duration of his sentence and for one year thereafter.