Italian authorities arrested Osama Najim, the head of Libya’s judicial police, in Turin, Italy, on Monday, following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged involvement in war crimes, according to Italian news reports.

The arrest is linked to widespread torture and inhumane treatment allegations at Mitiga prison. The charges outlined in the ICC warrant are based on the provisions of Articles 7 and 8 of the Rome Statute, which define crimes against humanity and war crimes. He was arrested at a hotel in Turin, in northern Italy, where he was found in the company of other Libyan nationals.

The Main Communications Chamber of the Libyan Judicial Police and the Ain Zara Main Correctional Institution have condemned what they described as Najim’s “arbitrary detention” in Italy. His arrest has raised concerns in Libya, with calls for government intervention to secure his release. Libyan organizations have also emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of their citizens abroad and ensuring fair treatment under international law.

NGO Mediterranean Save Humanity stated that the arrest “came after years of complaints and testimonies from victims, which were sent to the International Criminal Court.” Najim was later released by Italian authorities and was welcomed by the public at Tripoli International Airport. The Italian government has not yet issued an official statement, but parts of the legal order were provided to the Italian News Agency.

Najim serves as the head of the Tripoli branch of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution, a network of detention centers notorious for its systematic abuse and violations of human rights, including torture and inhumane treatment, which such practices have been repeatedly cited in a report by the UN Human Rights Council. The institution operates under the management of the government-supported Special Defense Force (SDF), a military police unit tasked with addressing high-profile criminal activities, including kidnappings, murders, and illegal migration.

Najim is a prominent figure within the Libyan militia. He held influential positions in the judicial police under the control of militias that have dominated Tripoli for nearly 14 years since the outbreak of the civil war. He is also regarded as one of the “key” figures of the Libyan revolution during Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

The Rome Court of Appeals ruled that the arrest warrant for Najim was improperly validated, as the General Investigations and Special Operations Division (DIGOS) unit in Turin failed to notify the Ministry of Justice before his detention, constituting a procedural lapse. Under Article 4 of Law 237/2012, the Minister of Justice is mandated to process ICC requests concerning war crimes, but it remains unclear whether the failure to notify invalidates the request. Notably, the ICC is investigating alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes that have occurred in Libya since the 2011 Libyan Civil War.