Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, along with top ministers, is facing a judicial investigation in Rome over the controversial release of a Libyan general sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to Euractiv.
In January 2025, Brigadier General Osama Al-Masri, chief of Libya’s criminal police, was detained in Turin under an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
However, procedural issues led to his sudden release on 21 January. Al-Masri was promptly flown back to Libya aboard an Italian state aircraft — despite ICC objections.
The Rome prosecutor’s office (Tribunal of Ministers) is examining whether Meloni, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and under-secretary Alfredo Mantovano failed to comply with the ICC warrant, possibly aiding Al-Masri’s escape and misusing state resources.
The inquiry includes alleged offenses of aiding wrongdoing and misappropriation.
Meloni denies wrongdoing, accusing prosecutors of politicization while claiming ICC procedural delays required quick government action. In a social media video, she asserted the ICC issued the warrant at “the moment he was about to enter Italy” and claimed there were security concerns.
She specifically targeted Rome Prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, linking him to previous politically charged cases.
This case intensifies scrutiny of Italy’s adherence to international justice. The ICC has demanded accountability, citing Italy’s “non‑compliance” and raising the case to the UN Security Council.
Libyan authorities, particularly in Benghazi under General Khalifa Haftar, perceive Italy’s gesture as insufficient amid rising migrant flows toward Europe.
