Libyan former prison boss allegedly known as 'Angel of Death' faces International Criminal Court

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun hearing the case against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a former Libyan prison commander accused of overseeing murder, rape, enslavement, and torture at the Mitiga detention centre near Tripoli. This is the first prosecution to reach the courtroom from the ICC’s investigation into crimes committed in Libya since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

El Hishri, 47, appeared before the court on Tuesday for hearings that will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for a trial. He faces 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, according to court documents. The charges relate to allegations that he ran a brutal regime at Mitiga prison between February 2014 and at least mid-2020.

Coverage Comparison

Reports of the hearing were carried by several international outlets, with some variations in focus. Africa News emphasised the systemic nature of the alleged abuses, describing El Hishri as "one of the leading figures overseeing operations inside Mitiga prison" and citing prosecutor claims that thousands of migrants and civilians suffered torture, sexual violence, persecution, and slavery under his authority. The outlet also reported that at least 5,000 civilians are believed to have been systematically tortured inside the prison over a six-year period.

France 24, meanwhile, highlighted El Hishri’s notorious reputation, noting that he was known as a "notorious torturer" and "the Angel of Death." The outlet also reported that the ICC has arrest warrants out for nine other Libyan suspects, and that El Hishri is the first to appear as part of the court’s UN-mandated investigation into Libya.

The Guardian framed the hearing as a "landmark step towards justice" for refugees trying to reach Europe from Africa, and quoted legal experts and survivors welcoming the development. It also noted the political sensitivity of the case, given El Hishri’s affiliation with the Special Deterrence Force, a powerful armed group that ran detention sites in western Libya.

Key Claims

The prosecution alleges that El Hishri, as a senior officer in the Special Deterrence Force, exercised near-total control over detainees at Mitiga prison, particularly in the women’s section. Court documents state that the detention facility operated under what prosecutors called an "institutionalised system of violence." Witnesses described women being tied with ropes and dragged around the prison while being beaten.

According to the ICC deputy prosecutor, Nazhat Shameem Khan, El Hishri personally participated in torture and abuse, using methods such as shooting people in the legs and knees, hanging detainees with their hands bound behind their backs, and beating them with a shovel. Khan also alleged that El Hishri "weaponised" disease by placing detainees in cells where they were likely to be infected.

The prosecutor claimed that these were not "the acts of rogue Mitiga prison guards" but part of a broader system. A claim carried by a single outlet said that at least 5,000 civilians are believed to have been systematically tortured inside the prison, and that 54 victims have been authorised to participate in the proceedings.

Perspectives

For survivors and their advocates, the hearings represent a long-awaited moment of accountability. David Yambio, who was held in Mitiga prison between 2019 and 2020 and accuses El Hishri of beating him, said the hearing "sends a strong message to perpetrators wherever they are that they will be brought to account and justice will be delivered, even if it takes a long time."

Legal experts also emphasised the significance of the case. Allison West, a senior legal adviser at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, called it "a really important development," noting that it is the first case in the ICC’s Libya investigation to reach the stage where a suspect is in custody.

El Hishri’s defence team is expected to respond later in the hearings. At an initial appearance in December, El Hishri reportedly said he was "just requesting my release." He sat impassively during Tuesday’s proceedings, occasionally nodding his head, and did not speak.

The case is politically sensitive because of El Hishri’s ties to the Special Deterrence Force, a militia that controlled detention sites in western Libya. The ICC’s investigation into Libya has been ongoing for more than a decade, and the hearings mark a rare moment of judicial progress in a file that has seen few concrete outcomes.