Tripoli: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, disclosed significant advancements in the investigation of crimes committed in Libya, stating that the court has amassed over 1,300 pieces of evidence. Khan made this revelation during a briefing to the Security Council, where he also highlighted the completion of more than 14 interviews and the examination of over 29 witnesses.
According to Libyan News Agency, Khan emphasized in his briefing that reliable information has been collected regarding crimes against demonstrators in 2011. The ICC has issued four public arrest warrants concerning these crimes, with one arrest warrant still pending for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi. The Security Council report included an arrest warrant for individuals responsible for a series of human rights violations, all of whom have been monitored.
Khan further detailed that the court has issued arrest warrants for six individuals associated with the “Kani” group, implicated in crimes of murder and torture
in Tarhuna. The locations of several individuals with outstanding arrest warrants have been identified, and there is a demand for their prosecution. The ICC has agreed with the Libyan Attorney General to initiate new steps to facilitate trials and prosecutions for crimes in Libya. Khan’s team is actively gathering evidence on crimes committed between 2014 and 2020, including extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, desecration of corpses, sexual violence, airstrikes, and enforced disappearances.
Khan expects additional arrest warrants to be issued for those involved in crimes up until 2020. He stressed the necessity for trials to take place in both The Hague and Libya and advocated for the involvement of Libyan lawyers in the proceedings in The Hague. He reaffirmed the commitment to joint coordination with the Attorney General in judicial investigations and integration efforts.