2 days ago
ICC confirms arrest of Khaled Al-Haishri in Germany in execution of its warrant
The Spokesman for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fadi Al-Abdallah, confirmed that German authorities have arrested Libyan national Khaled Mohammed Ali Al-Haishri, known as 'Al-Buti,' in execution of an arrest warrant issued by the Court on July 10, 2025.
Al-Abdallah told Libya Al-Ahrar TV channel that Al-Haishri is considered one of the senior officials at Mitiga Prison in Libya, where thousands of individuals were detained for extended periods during years of conflict.
He added that Al-Haishri is accused of direct involvement in crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence, committed between 2015 and 2020.
Al-Abdallah explained that Al-Haishri will remain in custody of the German authorities pending the completion of national procedures under Article 59 of the Rome Statute, which governs the surrender of suspects to the Court.
In this context, the Libyan Crimes Watch Organization welcomed the arrest of Khaled Al-Haishri, known as 'Al-Buti,' describing it in a statement on Friday as a significant step toward holding perpetrators of serious violations in Libya accountable, and a sign that international justice can be activated in the absence of an independent and effective national judiciary.
The human rights organization described the arrest as a glimmer of hope for the families of victims of the Special Deterrence Force, after years of systematic impunity. It also warned against returning Al-Haishri to Libya, citing the case of Osama Njeem, which could enable him to escape justice and undermine international accountability efforts. It called on German authorities to fully cooperate with the ICC and to surrender Al-Haishri without delay. Tags: International Criminal Court Human Rights
