Italian PM Meloni Under Investigation Over Libya War Crimes Suspect’s Release
italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that she is under judicial investigation for her role in the controversial release of Osama Najim, a Libyan citizen wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes.
najim, also known as Almasri, heads Libya’s judicial police and oversees a notorious detention center near Tripoli. His January arrest in Italy sparked international outcry when he was unexpectedly freed days later,reportedly due to a “legal technicality”. The ICC, which had not been consulted, swiftly issued a new arrest warrant for Najim and demanded an clarification from Italian authorities.
In a video posted on social media, Meloni asserted that the Rome appeals court released Najim because the ICC warrant wasn’t delivered to the Italian justice ministry. She explained, “At that point, so as not to let him go free on Italian territory, we decided to expel him and repatriate him immediately, with a special flight.”
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio’s subsequent justification for the expulsion, citing “danger” posed by Najim, faced ridicule from opposition parties.the decision to release Najim drew widespread condemnation from both opposition parties and NGOs like Amnesty International.
Amnesty International condemned Najim, claiming he was responsible for “horrific violations committed with total impunity.” Videos of a jubilant Tripoli crowd welcoming Najim upon his arrival on an Italian government plane further fueled the controversy.
Adding to the turmoil, Meloni revealed that Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and cabinet undersecretary for intelligence Alfredo Mantovano are also under investigation. While being placed under investigation in Italy doesn’t automatically lead to formal charges, the growth intensifies scrutiny surrounding the government’s handling of the situation.
Meloni, in a defiant tone, suggested political motivations behind the investigation, stating, “This may be why I’m unpopular among those who don’t wont Italy to change and improve. But that’s precisely the reason I intend to continue on my way, protecting Italians, especially when the nation’s safety is at stake, head held high with no fear.”
Matteo Renzi,leader of the opposition party Italy Alive (IV) and a vocal critic of the Najim release, accused Meloni of using the investigation to “feed her usual victim complex.”
Meloni, head of the far-right, anti-migrant Brothers of Italy party, has led Italy’s ruling right-wing coalition as 2022. she has consistently promised to curb immigration and pledged to stop boats carrying migrants from North Africa, vowing to eliminate illegal departures and human trafficking.
Her administration, like previous ones, has engaged with Libyan authorities and militias, providing them with financial and technical support under contentious agreements to combat illegal immigration. This includes training and funding for the Libyan coast guard, which intercepts migrant vessels.
