On 1 December 2025, Mr Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri was surrendered to the custody of the International Criminal Court.
Mr El Hishri, a Libyan national, had been arrested on 16 July 2025 by authorities in the Federal Republic of Germany following a sealed arrest warrant issued by ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I on 10 July 2025. Acting upon the Court’s request, German authorities detained the suspect until the completion of their national proceedings, in accordance with article 59 of the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty.
Mr El Hishri is alleged to have been among the most senior officials at Mitiga Prison, where thousands of individuals were reportedly held for extended periods. He is suspected of personally committing, ordering, or overseeing crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, allegedly perpetrated in Libya between February 2015 and early 2020.
A hearing will be scheduled in due course for Mr El Hishri’s initial appearance before the Court. During this session, the Chamber will verify the suspect’s identity, determine the language in which he can follow the proceedings, and ensure that he has been fully informed of the charges and of his rights under the Rome Statute.
The ICC Registrar, Mr Osvaldo Zavala Giler, expressed his appreciation to the national authorities involved for their “strong and consistent cooperation with the Court,” which contributed to this recent surrender.
