ROME (AP) — Italy’s prime minister on Saturday addressed growing criticism over the repatriation of a Libyan warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court, while Giorgia Meloni cited a professional burden and security concerns.
The repatriation of Ossama Anjiem to Libya, a key partner in Europe’s efforts to prevent migrants from crossing the Mediterranean and landing on its shores, sparked outrage from human rights groups and questions from Italy’s opposition parties.
Meloni said her government will ask the ICC to clarify why it took months to issue the arrest warrant for Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, and why it was only issued after he had traveled through at least three European countries.
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“Al-Masri was released by an order from the Court of Appeal of Rome… it was not a government choice,” Meloni told journalists during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
Italy has close ties with Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli and is relied on to patrol its coasts and prevent migrants from leaving. Any trial of al-Masri in The Hague could draw unwanted attention to Italy’s migration policy and support from Libya’s coastguard.
Al-Masri heads the Tripoli branch of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution, a notorious network of detention centers run by the government-backed Special Deterrent Forces. He was arrested on Sunday in Turin, where he reportedly attended the Juventus-Milan football match the night before.
The ICC warrant, dated the day before his arrest, accused Al-Masri of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Mitiga prison starting in 2015, punishable by life in prison. The court said he was accused of murder, torture, rape and sexual violence. The prison holds political dissidents, migrants and others.
Human rights groups have documented abuses in Libyan detention facilities where migrants are held for years.
The ICC said the arrest warrant was sent to member states, including Italy, on Saturday, and that the court had told Italy to contact it “without delay” if it had any problems with the warrant.
But Rome’s Court of Appeals ordered Al-Masri Freed on Tuesday, citing a “procedural error” in his arrest. The ruling said Justice Minister Carlo Nordio should have been informed in advance since the ministry processes all relations with the ICC.
Al-Masri was sent to Libya aboard an Italian secret services plane.
The ICC said it had not received advance notice of the appeals court’s decision as required and had yet to “obtain verification from the authorities on the steps allegedly taken.”
Meloni said that the Italian government, “faced with a dangerous individual, decided to immediately expel him and, in many cases with dangerous prisoners who have been repatriated, did not use a regular flight, also for the safety of passengers.”
She said Italy will provide any necessary clarifications to the ICC.
Opposition parties have asked Meloni to urgently explain the “very serious” development, while calling on the justice minister to resign.