Tripoli - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court announced that the court is preparing to issue new arrest warrants for perpetrators of crimes in Libya. This came after the International Criminal Court in The Hague received a declaration from the Libyan government accepting the court's jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed on its territory since 2011, according to a statement from the court, a copy of which we received. The statement added that this is taking place under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, as the situation in Libya is currently under investigation by the court following its referral by the Security Council in February 2011.
According to the UN Daily News Bulletin, a copy of which we received on Friday morning, before the Security Council, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court reviewed the achievements of his office over the past six months in the pursuit of justice in Libya, particularly "the major step taken by issuing the first public arrest warrant in relation to crimes committed in detention centers in Libya." In his briefing to a Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya on Thursday, Khan said that, based on extensive work, "there was a moment of real significance, a moment of hope," when Italian authorities arrested Osama al-Masry Najim on January 20 of this year, based on an arrest warrant issued by Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, at the request of his office.
However, Khan noted that "this hope quickly turned to frustration," explaining that Najim "was returned to the place where we allege that crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, and persecution, were committed in Mitiga prison."
Khan reported that these crimes were committed by Najim personally, at his command, or with the assistance of members of the Deterrence Force.
He added: "Victims are often imprisoned because of their beliefs. Many of those we identified were targeted simply for their differing views or for their willingness to publicly identify themselves as Christians." Work that will not go unpunished
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court emphasized that the impact of their work will not go unpunished and will continue, revealing that his office is actively seeking arrest warrants for additional individuals in connection with crimes committed in detention throughout Libya, in both the east and west.
Khan described the Libyan Prime Minister's decision to dissolve the Deterrence Force to Combat Terrorism and Organized Crime and to dismiss Najim from his position as Director of Operations and Judicial Security as a "positive step," calling on the Libyan authorities to hand Najim over to the ICC.
He addressed another development: the spread of a video showing Ibrahim al-Darsi, a member of the House of Representatives, being tortured and chained.
He confirmed that his office is working with the Libyan authorities to verify the authenticity of the video, describing it as further evidence of the heinous crimes that continue to be committed.
Welcoming Libyan Announcement
Khan emphasized that it is essential that their focus on the crimes committed in Libya be matched by the cooperation of states in arresting those responsible. He said that all states must fulfill their obligations under the Rome Statute (the founding document of the International Criminal Court) and Security Council Resolution 1970 of 2011, which referred the situation in Libya to the Court, "so that together we can eradicate the sense of impunity that fuels this cruelty."
Khan announced that Libya had submitted a declaration under Article 12(3) of the Rome Statute, allowing for deeper cooperation with the ICC.
He welcomed the declaration, saying, "This declaration reflects a new willingness to cooperate and benefit from justice in the pursuit of a better future."
He concluded his briefing by saying, "I am convinced that by working together, we can now do more and ensure that those in these detention centers, those subject to trafficking, and those who have gone too long without justice for their missing loved ones feel the impact of our work."