Italy releases Libyan who was arrested on ICC warrant

Opposition parties and NGOs are demanding explanations from Italy’s government after it released the head of the Libyan judicial police, who it had arrested on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant over allegations of war crimes, reported the BBC on January 22nd.

Osama Najim, also known as Al Masri, also directs an infamous detention centre in Mitiga, near Tripoli, which according to Amnesty International is the scene of “horrific violations committed with total impunity”.

Italian media, quoting interior ministry sources, said Najim was freed due to a legal technicality.

BBC News