Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Faces Investigation Over Libyan Warlord’s Repatriation

[Social Media]

 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that she and two of her ministers are under investigation by Rome prosecutors for repatriating a Libyan warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Meloni stated on Tuesday that she believes the inquiry was triggered by a complaint from an opposition politician. In Italy, prosecutors are required to launch investigations based on complaints, but it is up to a preliminary hearing judge to determine whether charges are ultimately filed. This process can take months or even longer.  

 

The controversy stems from the arrest of Libyan warlord Mahmoud al-Masri in Turin on January 19, one day after the ICC issued an international arrest warrant against him. Al-Masri had reportedly spent about 12 days in three other European countries before arriving in Italy. However, after a court in Rome failed to confirm his arrest, he was expelled on January 21 and repatriated to Libya aboard a government plane.  

 

Meloni took to social media to express frustration over the situation, pointing out that the ICC’s warrant was issued only after al-Masri had already arrived in Italy. She also argued that the international arrest warrant had not been properly transmitted to the Italian Justice Ministry as required by law. “For this reason, the Appeals Court in Rome decided not to confirm the arrest,” she explained.  

 

“At this point, this subject was free in Italian territory, and rather than letting him free, we decided to expel and repatriate him immediately for security reasons with a flight, as happens in other similar cases,” Meloni said. She denounced the investigation, declaring, “I cannot be blackmailed. I will not be intimidated.”  

 

In addition to Meloni, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, along with under-secretary Alfredo Mantovani, are also under investigation. Piantedosi is expected to address lawmakers on the matter on Wednesday. Last week, he defended his decision to expel al-Masri, stating, “for urgent security reasons, with my expulsion order, in view of the danger posed by the subject.”  

 

Al-Masri is accused by the ICC of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence, all allegedly committed in the Mitiga prison in Libya starting in 2015. If convicted, these crimes could carry a life sentence.  

 

The ICC has stated that the arrest warrant was transmitted to its member states, including Italy, on January 18, and that it provided real-time updates regarding al-Masri’s movements in Europe. The court also emphasized that Italy had been reminded to contact the ICC “without delay” if any complications arose regarding cooperation with the warrant.  

 

Al-Masri is known to be the leader of the Tripoli branch of the Reform and Rehabilitation Institution, a notorious network of detention centers operated by Libya’s government-backed Special Deterrence Forces. His alleged crimes have drawn international condemnation, and his expulsion by Italy has now sparked legal and political controversy within the country.

 

Based on a report by The Independent 2025-01-30

 

 

[The Old Bull]

I feel sorry for the lawyers, had the trough pulled out from under them.

[JonnyF]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that she and two of her ministers are under investigation by Rome prosecutors for repatriating a Libyan warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

 

Is this satire?

 

He's literally a warlord wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. And people are complaining about him being arrested and expelled? 😄

 

No wonder Europe is in decline. 

[herfiehandbag]

33 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Is this satire?

 

He's literally a warlord wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. And people are complaining about him being arrested and expelled? 😄

 

No wonder Europe is in decline. 

It is the Italian courts - very heavily politicised. Remember how they went after Berlesconi - a dodgy comic opera buffoon but nevertheless the consistent choice of the Italian electorate. One of the reasons that Italian governments are so unstable is that they are constantly undermined by a politicised judiciary

[Tiger1980]

It seems that the Italian and EU establishment are after her.

[Chomper Higgot]

11 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Is this satire?

 

He's literally a warlord wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. And people are complaining about him being arrested and expelled? 😄

 

No wonder Europe is in decline. 

As opposed to arrested, detained and shipped to face trial in The Hague.

[Chomper Higgot]

10 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

It is the Italian courts - very heavily politicised. Remember how they went after Berlesconi - a dodgy comic opera buffoon but nevertheless the consistent choice of the Italian electorate. One of the reasons that Italian governments are so unstable is that they are constantly undermined by a politicised judiciary

Things must have changed since I was at Rome.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, Tiger1980 said:

It seems that the Italian and EU establishment are after her.

It seems she deliberately ignored an international arrest warrant. 

[Bkk Brian]

10 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It seems she deliberately ignored an international arrest warrant. 

False, read the frigging OP for once Chomper