The Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) has announced its rejection of a request to extradite Osama Najim, a senior officer in the Judicial Police, to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Tripoli-based government argued that the ICC has failed to present sufficient evidence to support its allegations and affirmed that Libya’s national judiciary is capable of handling the case.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Justice confirmed it had lifted procedural restrictions on Najim, in accordance with legal protocols and at the request of the Libyan Attorney General. The ministry also published a document confirming that Najim appeared for questioning on 24 April.
The Justice Ministry underlined that the ICC prosecutor has not submitted any evidence to Libyan authorities to support the charges against Najim. Furthermore, it stressed that Libya is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and therefore is not obligated to hand over its citizens to international courts. “No Libyan citizen will be extradited outside national jurisdiction,” the statement read.
Najim faces 12 serious charges from the ICC, including murder, torture, rape, and crimes against humanity allegedly committed at Mitiga Prison in Tripoli, where he oversaw the detention of thousands of individuals since 2015. The charges include violations of personal dignity, cruel treatment, and persecution.
Najim was briefly detained in Italy in January 2025 under an ICC warrant but was released and returned to Libya within two days due to what authorities called “procedural flaws” in the extradition request. The move triggered sharp criticism from international human rights groups and members of the Italian parliament.
The GNU’s position is expected to spark renewed debate over Libya’s commitment to international justice and its willingness to address allegations of systemic abuse in its detention centres.
