Italian PM says she is being investigated for release of Libyan warlord

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Roey Hadar (Producer), Joey Nunez (Video Editor)

The prime minister of Italy says that prosecutors are investigating her for the release of a Libyan warlord with an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni presided over the government’s decision to release Osama Elmasry Njeem, the head of Libya’s judicial police and director of a detention camp in the country.

Italian authorities expelled Njeem three days after his arrest on Jan. 21, flying him back to Libya instead of releasing him in Italy. A crowd of supporters cheered Njeem’s arrival at the airport in Libya’s capital of Tripoli.

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The Italian Interior Ministry said they released Njeem due to a technicality. Meloni, meanwhile, said the release happened after a court found they couldn’t act on the ICC’s warrant because they had not sent it to the Italian Justice Ministry.

Meloni also accused investigators of targeting her for political reasons, with the right-wing Meloni noting the complaint came from a left-wing politician. The BBC says that being under investigation in Italian law doesn’t necessarily mean charges are coming.

The ICC wants Njeem over charges he committed war crimes in the civil war that followed the fall of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Meloni has built close ties with the current Libyan government, funding their authorities and coast guard to prevent immigration from Libya and other North African countries to Italy.

Tags: Giorgia Meloni, International Criminal Court, Italy, Libya

LAUREN TAYLOR: The prime minister of Italy says that prosecutors are investigating her for the release of a Libyan warlord with a warrant out from the International Criminal Court for his arrest.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni presided over the government’s decision to release Osama Njeem, the head of Libya’s judicial police and director of a detention camp in the country.

Italian authorities expelled Njeem three days after arresting him on January 21st, flying him back to Libya instead of releasing him in Italy. A crowd of supporters cheered Njeem arrival at the airport in Libya’s capital of Tripoli.

The Italian interior ministry said they released Njeem due to a technicality, with Meloni saying the release happened after a court found they couldn’t act on the ICC’s warrant because they had not sent it to the Italian justice ministry.

The ICC wants Njeem over charges he committed war crimes in the civil war that followed the fall of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Meloni has built close ties with the current Libyan government, funding their authorities and coast guard in an effort to help them prevent immigration from Libya and other North African countries to Italy.

For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.

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