Freitag, 24.01.2025 / 16:35 Uhr

War on Refugees: Italien lässt libyschen Menschenschinder frei

Osama Najim, Bildquelle: Libya Review

Die inzwischen fast nicht mehr zählbaren Flüchtlingsdeals die wahlweise die EU oder europäische Einzelstaaten mit Diktatoren, Autokraten oder Milizen in Nordafrika und dem Nahen Osten abgeschlossen haben, haben unter anderem zur Folge, dass sich von diesen in jeder Hinsicht erpressbar machen.

Ganz besonders apart ist dabei der Deal der italienischen Regierung mit islamistischen Milizen, die sich jetzt Grenzschützer nennen dürfen und neben lukrativem Menschenhandel diesen eben auch hin und wieder ebenso lukrativ unterbinden.

Einer von ihnen, Osama Najim , wurde letzte Woche in Turin festgenommen, weil ein Haftbefehl des ICC wegen systematischer Quälerei von Flüchtlingen gegen ihn vorlag. Unter anderem wird ihm vorgeworfen, as being responsible for overseeing detention facilities in Libya’s capital, Tripoli. These charges include murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence, according to the ICC’s official statement.

Das nun wiederum hätte offenbar den Flüchtlingsdeal der italienischen Regierung mit den seinen in Tripolis gefährdet, also ließ man ihn kurzerhand wieder frei:

On Wednesday evening, the ICC said Mr Najim had been released by Italy "without prior notice or consultation with the Court" and issued another arrest warrant for him. (...)

Mr Najim was flown back to Libya on Tuesday night on an Italian government flight. Images shared by local media showed a jubilant crowd welcoming him back with cheers and fireworks.

Shortly after Mr Najim was arrested internal ICC sources were already concerned Italy may release him, said Avvenire, the daily newspaper that first broke the story.

Italian opposition parties have expressed outrage at the release, which Rome has not yet commented on.

Matteo Renzi, former prime minister and leader of a centrist opposition party, asked justice minister Carlo Nordio "to account for his decision before MPs", while Arturo Scotto of the Democratic Party (PD) said Mr Najim was a "Libyan mafia boss" and that Italy - an ICC signatory - had to adhere to international treaties.

Libyan writer and journalist Khalil Elhassi said Italy should explain to the Libyan people why it had released "an extremely dangerous criminal" who he said was "known for taking part in torture of Libyans and migrants".

Two NGOs who work with migrants - Mediterranea Saving Humans and Refugees in Libya - said they had been left "stunned" by news of Mr Najim's release.

"Some of us have suffered torture in the Mitiga camp," the NGOs said in a statement, adding that "any crime committed on [detainees] will fall on the conscience of those who protected and freed a criminal like [Mr Najim]."

According to Amnesty International, Mr Najim headed the Judicial Police wing of the Mitiga prison since 2016 and, from 2021, oversaw various other prisons as director of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution of the Libyan Judicial Police.

Libya has been splintered since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, is currently divided between two rival governments, as well as by militias.