The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to confirm all charges against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri and commit him to trial marks a decisive step towards accountability for crimes committed in Libya’s detention system. As the first ICC trial stemming from the Libya situation, it brings long-awaited hope to victims and survivors. But this progress must be matched by renewed efforts to arrest other ICC suspects and advance accountability for the many serious crimes that are still ongoing in and around the Libyan detention system.
The Hague, Paris, 23 July 2026. On 16 July, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) unanimously confirmed all 17 charges against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, including war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed at the Mitiga Prison in Tripoli. The Chamber found substantial grounds to believe that El Hishri, a senior figure within the powerful Libyan milita formerly known as Special Deterrence Forced / RADA, is responsible for crimes including torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, murder, enslavement, persecution, imprisonment and other inhumane acts committed against detainees. For thousands of victims and survivors of abuses in Libya’s detention system, this decision represents a long-awaited recognition of the gravity of the crimes they endured and opens a new phase in the pursuit of justice and reparations.
"This decision demonstrates that accountability for crimes committed in Libya is possible, even years after they were committed. As this case moves forward, victims of these abuses must remain at the heart of the proceedings. Their participation is essential to the pursuit of justice and to establishing a truthful record of what happened," said Alexis Deswaef, President of FIDH and lawyer admitted to the ICC List of Counsel.
The confirmation of charges does not constitute a finding of guilt. El Hishri is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty before the ICC Trial Chamber.
As this case moves to trial, FIDH calls on States and Libyan authorities to ensure full cooperation with the Court, including by supporting the effective conduct of the trial and executing the outstanding ICC arrest warrants in the Libya situation. This first trial must not become an isolated achievement, but rather the beginning of broader accountability efforts for victims of serious international crimes across Libya.
