On Tuesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that she is under investigation by Italian prosecutors regarding the controversial deportation of Libyan police officer Osama Njeem, also known as Osama al-Masri.
Al-Masri, who had been briefly detained in Italy, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. His release and subsequent deportation to Libya last week have sparked significant backlash.
In a statement posted on social media, Meloni explained that she, along with Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and State Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, is being investigated on charges of embezzlement and aiding and abetting. However, she stressed that under Italian law, being placed under investigation does not imply guilt or automatically lead to charges.
“I will not be blackmailed or intimidated,” Meloni said in a video posted on Facebook. “I will continue to push for the change and improvement of Italy, which is why some want to see me undermined.”
Al-Masri was arrested in Italy under an ICC warrant but was later released by a court of appeal in Rome, which ruled in favor of his release. Following the ruling, he was deported to Libya, a country with which Italy maintains a complex relationship, particularly concerning migration control in the Mediterranean.
The repatriation of al-Masri, who was transported on a flight operated by Italy’s intelligence services, has raised concerns about Italy’s commitment to international justice and human rights standards. Critics have accused the government of prioritizing political alliances with Libya over legal obligations to the ICC.
In her defense, Meloni argued that the decision to expel al-Masri was made based on national security concerns.
She pointed out that, in cases involving dangerous individuals, the use of a regular flight was not deemed appropriate for safety reasons. Meloni also questioned the timing of the ICC’s arrest warrant, asking why it took several months to be issued and why al-Masri was not apprehended earlier as he traveled through multiple European countries.
