Libyan Commander Faces ICC Pretrial for Atrocities Committed in Mitiga Prison
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is currently conducting pretrial hearings for a Libyan prison commander, accused of committing heinous crimes against detainees. The suspect, known as the “Angel of Death,” is facing charges for murder and rape at the notorious Mitiga prison in Tripoli.
This marks the first time a Libyan suspect is being brought to trial by the ICC, with the defendant facing 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. These alleged crimes occurred between 2015 and 2020, a turbulent period following the fall of Moammar Gadhafi’s regime.
During the hearings, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Khan highlighted the brutal acts committed by Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, who allegedly terrorized prisoners, with some incidents occurring in front of their children. Khan quoted one of the nearly 1,000 victims involved in the case, referring to El Hishri as the “Angel of Death.”
El Hishri, aged 47, appeared in court wearing a blue suit and tie, maintaining an expressionless demeanor as the serious charges were read out. Prosecutors have described him as a senior figure at Mitiga prison, overseeing the women’s section where sexual violence was rampant. He was known for carrying a gun and shooting prisoners, usually in the leg or knee, which was not seen as the behavior of rogue guards, according to Khan.
The current hearing is not a trial; it serves as a platform for prosecutors to present their evidence. The judges will have 60 days to evaluate whether the evidence is sufficient for a full trial against El Hishri.
El Hishri was extradited to the Netherlands from Germany in December, following his arrest in July under a sealed ICC warrant. The ICC’s involvement in Libya stems from a directive by the United Nations Security Council in 2011 to investigate the nation as it slipped into chaos after Gadhafi’s ousting.
While the court quickly issued a warrant for Gadhafi, his capture was avoided as he was killed by rebels before being detained. Arrest warrants for nine other Libyan suspects remain active, including one for Gadhafi’s son.
Another suspect linked to crimes at Mitiga prison, Ossama Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, was briefly detained in Italy earlier this year. His release due to a technicality outraged human rights advocates.
