Italy’s judicial authorities are currently reviewing requests to transfer Libyan prisoners, following renewed diplomatic efforts and mounting pressure linked to a high-profile hunger strike case.
According to Italy’s Nova Agency, the process gained momentum after a delegation from Libya’s Ministry of Justice arrived to follow up on the case, coordinating with Libyan diplomatic missions in Italy. Officials confirmed that all required legal documentation has been completed, leaving the final decision in the hands of Italian courts.
The development comes as Libyan prisoner Mohannad Nouri Khasheba escalated his protest by entering a hunger strike and reportedly sewing his mouth shut, demanding a clear timeline for his transfer to Libya or an official rejection. His case has reignited public and legal debate over the fate of five Libyan prisoners held in Italy for more than a decade.
Italian judicial authorities retain full discretion to approve or reject each transfer request individually. The process involves detailed legal assessments, particularly in cases involving serious criminal convictions. Khasheba is among those sentenced in connection with the 2015 migrant shipwreck case, which resulted in dozens of deaths and led to prison terms of up to 30 years.
Despite the activation of a bilateral prisoner exchange agreement between Libya and Italy, implementation remains complex. Legal procedures require case-by-case evaluation, slowing down the transfer process.
