The European Council in 2023 urged
all member States to fully cooperate with the International
Criminal Court (ICC), including by promptly executing arrest
warrants, a spokesperson of the EU executive said on Friday,
speaking about the case of alleged Libyan war criminal Osama
Almasri.
Almasri, a Libyan police official, was released on a
technicality by Italian authorities and flown back home from
Italy after being detained on an International Criminal Court
arrest warrant for the alleged murder of migrants and alleged
rape of persons as young as five.
"The European Council in 2023 called on all member States to
guarantee full cooperation to the Court, including by promptly
executing arrest warrants", stressed the spokesperson, replying
to a question on the Almasri case.
"It is not up to the European Commission to ensure the respect
of the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants, but we
support the Court, we respect its impartiality and
independence", also noted the spokesperson.
The Libyan judicial police commander, who is wanted by the ICC
for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed
since 2015, was arrested in Italy on January 19 but released two
days later on a technicality.
His release sparked a furore and prompted the ICC to ask Rome
for clarification.
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