A Libyan court has convicted notorious militia commander Ossama Anjiem, widely known as Ossama al-Masri, for human rights violations committed at a detention facility in western Libya, more than a year after his controversial release and deportation from Italy sparked international outrage.
The Tripoli Criminal Court sentenced al-Masri to seven years and four months in prison after finding him guilty of violating the rights of detainees who reported being subjected to torture, cruel treatment and degrading conditions while in custody.
According to a statement issued by Libya’s Attorney General’s Office, the court concluded that inmates held under al-Masri’s authority suffered serious abuses at a detention facility operated by the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution in Tripoli.
Authorities also ordered that al-Masri be stripped of his legal capacity and civil rights throughout the duration of his prison term and for an additional year after completing his sentence.
Al-Masri previously headed the Tripoli branch of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution, a detention network linked to the government-backed Special Defense Force (SDF). While the force has officially been tasked with combating crimes such as kidnapping, murder and illegal migration, it has repeatedly faced allegations of serious abuses and atrocities during Libya’s years of conflict.
The conviction comes against the backdrop of an ongoing international investigation into al-Masri’s alleged role in far graver crimes.
In January 2025, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for al-Masri, accusing him of suspected crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015 onward.
The ICC warrant cited allegations including murder, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence.
The militia commander was subsequently arrested in the Italian city of Turin shortly after arriving from Germany to attend a football match. However, the arrest quickly became the subject of international controversy when Italian authorities released him and later deported him back to Libya instead of transferring him to The Hague to face ICC proceedings.
The decision triggered strong criticism from human rights organizations and prompted the ICC to open an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Italy’s handling of the case.
At the time, Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio defended the government’s actions, arguing that the ICC warrant contained contradictions and legal deficiencies that complicated its enforcement.
The latest conviction marks a significant development in efforts to hold individuals accused of abuses during Libya’s prolonged instability accountable, although the domestic charges differ from the broader allegations currently under examination by the ICC.
Libya has remained politically fragmented since the 2011 uprising that overthrew longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The collapse of central authority plunged the country into years of armed conflict, leaving rival administrations competing for power and influence.
Currently, the internationally recognized government in Tripoli is headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, while eastern Libya is administered by Ossama Hammad, with military influence largely exercised by Khalifa Haftar.
The North African nation also remains a key transit route for migrants and refugees from Africa and the Middle East seeking to reach Europe, with detention centres and armed groups frequently coming under scrutiny from international human rights organizations.
