The case of Osama “Al Masri” Njeem, Libya’s controversial Chief of Judicial Police, has sparked outrage and raised significant questions about justice, accountability, and international politics. Njeem, who is accused of overseeing a network of detention centers notorious for human rights abuses, was arrested in Italy on January 19, 2023, based on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. However, in a move that has been widely condemned, he was released just two days later and flown back to Libya on an Italian government plane. The Italian government cited “inaccuracies” in the ICC warrant as the reason for his release, but this explanation has been met with significant skepticism, both within Italy and internationally.
Njeem is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape, and human trafficking, allegedly committed between 2015 and 2023. These acts are said to have taken place in several prisons in Tripoli, including Mitiga, Ain Zara, and al-Jadida, which are under the control of the Judicial Police and the Deterrence Apparatus for Combatting Terrorism and Organised Crime (DACTO), a militia linked to the internationally recognized Libyan government. Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, have long documented the horrific conditions in these prisons, where thousands of people have been detained for prolonged periods without due process. The rights group has emphasized that there is no prospect of domestic accountability in Libya for powerful militia commanders like Njeem.
One of the most harrowing aspects of Njeem’s case is the testimony of survivors who were held in the prisons under his oversight. David Yambio, a 27-year-old refugee from South Sudan, shared his traumatic experiences with Al Jazeera. Yambio arrived in Libya in 2018 after fleeing his homeland, where he had been forcibly conscripted as a child soldier. After being captured by the Libyan Coastguard, which is largely funded by the Italian government, Yambio was sold into a network of prisons operated by Njeem and the Judicial Police. He was initially held at al-Jadida prison in Tripoli, where he described being beaten, forced into labor, and subjected to inhumane conditions. Yambio testified that Njeem would regularly visit the prison, selecting prisoners to beat with metal tubes or the handle of his pistol. On one occasion, Njeem allegedly shot a prisoner attempting to escape, leaving Yambio covered in blood.
Yambio’s experiences were corroborated by Lam Magok, a 33-year-old fellow South Sudanese migrant who was also detained at al-Jadida and later transferred to Mitiga prison. Magok described the brutal conditions at both facilities, including frequent beatings, forced labor, and summary executions. He recalled how prisoners were forced to clean up the bodies of those who had been killed, a practice that underscored the systemic impunity under which such atrocities were committed. Magok also shared the story of how he and Yambio became close during their time in captivity, bonding over their shared suffering and exchanging contact information in the hope that someone might one day inform their families that they were alive. Both men eventually escaped from Mitiga and fled to Italy, where they were granted asylum and now advocate for the rights of refugees and migrants.
The decision by Italian authorities to release Njeem has been met with widespread condemnation. Rights groups have described the move as “outrageous” and “hypocritical,” given Italy’s vocal commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting human rights. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi initially defended the decision by claiming that Njeem posed a danger to Italian society, but this justification was later contradicted by the Justice Minister, who attributed the release to a legal technicality. The controversy has also implicated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is now under judicial investigation for her role in Njeem’s release. Critics argue that the episode reflects a broader pattern of Italian complicity in human rights abuses in Libya, particularly in the context of migration control.
Italy’s handling of Njeem’s case must be understood within the broader context of its migration policies and its partnership with the Libyan government. For years, Italy has sought to stem the flow of irregular migration from Libya to Europe by funding the Libyan Coastguard and supporting militias like DACTO, which are known to be involved in human trafficking and other abuses. This approach has been justified as a necessary measure to protect European borders, but it has come at a devastating cost for migrants and refugees, who are subjected to inhumane conditions in Libyan prisons. Critics argue that Italy’s willingness to overlook such abuses in pursuit of its migration goals undermines its moral authority and breaches its obligations under international law. As long as powerful figures like Njeem continue to act with impunity, the victims of these abuses—like Yambio and Magok—will remain trapped in a cycle of violence and injustice.
