The International Criminal Court (ICC) held its first procedural hearing on Wednesday in the case of Libyan suspect Khaled Mohammed Ali Al-Hishri, who is currently in ICC custody over alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Libya.
According to a statement published by the ICC on its official Facebook page, the hearing took place between 14:30 and 16:30 in Courtroom 3 at the ICC headquarters. Al-Hishri attended the session in person, during which the court confirmed the charges brought against him as part of the preparatory phase of the proceedings.
Al-Hishri faces multiple counts of war crimes, including cruel treatment, torture, outrages upon personal dignity, rape, sexual violence, and the killing of detainees held at Mitiga prison in eastern Tripoli. He is also accused of crimes against humanity, including imprisonment, torture, rape, sexual violence, murder, and persecution.
The prosecution alleges that detainees were unlawfully held at Mitiga prison without legal basis and were subjected to systematic abuse. The charges further include persecution through targeting detainees based on their opinions and perceived affiliations.
The ICC stated that Al-Hishri was a senior official within the Special Deterrence Force, which operated and controlled Mitiga prison. Thousands of individuals were allegedly detained there for prolonged periods between February 2015 and early 2020.
The court issued an arrest warrant against Al-Hishri on 10 July 2025. He was subsequently arrested by German authorities on 16 July on suspicion of involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to abuses at Mitiga prison.
The case marks a significant development in international efforts to address alleged serious violations committed during Libya’s years of conflict. The ICC has repeatedly stressed its commitment to accountability for crimes committed in Libya and to ensuring that those most responsible are brought before international justice.
