The International Criminal Court has been informed that a high-ranking official in a Libyan prison committed heinous acts such as murder and rape against inmates, at times in front of their children, leading to the moniker “Angel of Death.” The court in The Hague is currently conducting pretrial proceedings for the first-ever suspect from Libya, who faces 17 charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes at the notorious Mitiga prison in Tripoli between 2015 and 2020, following the demise of long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, referred to as the “Angel of Death” by detainees at the facility, was described by deputy prosecutor Nazhat Khan as a senior commander responsible for overseeing the women’s section where sexual violence was rampant. Prosecutors alleged that El Hishri routinely carried a gun and targeted prisoners by shooting them in the leg or knee, actions that were not isolated incidents carried out by rogue guards at Mitiga prison.

The ongoing proceedings serve to present the prosecution’s case in court, with judges having 60 days to assess the evidence before deciding whether to proceed with a trial against El Hishri. Extradited from Germany to the Netherlands in December under a sealed ICC warrant, El Hishri’s case marks the first instance of a Libyan suspect facing trial at the international court, which was mandated by the United Nations Security Council in 2011 to investigate the escalating lawlessness in Libya post-Gadhafi’s overthrow.

Although the court had issued a warrant for Gadhafi, his death at the hands of rebels thwarted his arrest and transfer to The Hague. Presently, arrest warrants are in place for nine other Libyan suspects, including one of Gadhafi’s offspring. The temporary apprehension and subsequent release of suspected Mitiga prison perpetrator Ossama Anjiem in Italy earlier this year drew criticism from human rights advocates, sparking controversy and accusations of double standards within the Italian government.

Matteo Renzi, former Italian premier and leader of the Viva Italia Party, condemned officials for allowing Anjiem’s return to Libya, indicating a perceived inconsistency in the government’s approach. Renzi questioned the decision-making process, highlighting the discrepancy between the treatment of alleged criminals and the government’s public stance on human trafficking.