Former Libyan prison chief Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday to face allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed at Mitiga prison between 2015 and 2020.
Prosecution Allegations
Prosecutors allege that El Hishri orchestrated torture, sexual abuse, and killings of detainees at the facility. Victims reportedly included women and a 15-year-old boy. The prosecution stated that many prisoners died due to mistreatment, sexual abuse, and killing of detainees.
Current Hearing Not a Trial
The ongoing ICC hearing is not a formal trial but aims to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed with a full trial against the accused. Judges may approve charges, dismiss them, or modify the allegations.
El Hishri has strongly denied the accusations and requested his release. The case is part of a broader ICC investigation into crimes in Libya following the 2011 uprising that ousted former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Related Case
Another Libyan official, Osama Almasri Najim, is also wanted on similar allegations of prison abuse. His case became controversial after he was reportedly released by Italian authorities.
