Lawsuit Initiated by Meloni, Nordio, Piantedosi, and Mantovano, Represented by Almasri
Italy-ICC Standoff Continues Over Almasri Case
The Almasri case, involving a Libyan police official wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes, has been a point of contention between the Italian government and the ICC.
As of August 6, 2025, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is no longer facing charges related to the release of Najeem Osema Almasri, a Libyan general. However, other senior Italian officials, including Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano, remain under investigation and prosecution.
The controversy began when Almasri was arrested in Turin on January 18 and later released by the Rome Court of Appeal on January 21, due to a legal technicality. The release prompted the ICC to issue an arrest warrant and consider Almasri a fugitive.
Prime Minister Meloni argued that the ICC's arrest request was not properly delivered to the Italian Ministry of Justice, and thus the release decision was not validated by the Court. She defended the repatriation decision on grounds of national security.
Under Article 86 of the Rome Statute, Italy has an obligation to cooperate with the ICC. However, the Italian government's handling of the situation—particularly the lack of prior consultation with the ICC—has been controversial.
Luigi Li Gotti, a former politician and lawyer, presented a complaint at the Rome prosecutor's office, involving names, possible crimes of favoritism, and peculation. The Rome Court of Appeal's decision to release Almasri was based on a procedural flaw, as the minister was informed late of the matter.
The center-right criticizes the arrest warrant for Almasri, stating it had uncertain elements and incorrect dates of the alleged crimes attributed to the general. They defend the theory of the legal technicality that forced Italy to repatriate the Libyan.
The Hague Court has stated that Italy knew everything about the case and asked not to comment loudly on the matter. There is a crossfire of accusations between the government and the CPI and between the government and the judiciary.
Prime Minister Meloni has archived her position and has stated that she was not previously informed about the decision to release Almasri. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has asked for a formal finding of non-compliance against Italy and referred the matter to the Assembly of States Parties and the United Nations Security Council.
The current legal status of the Almasri case involves ongoing investigations and prosecutions of Italian officials, while Almasri remains wanted by the ICC and is considered a fugitive. The standoff between Italy and the ICC continues, with both parties maintaining their respective positions.
- The average citizen may find the politics surrounding the Almasri case, a Libyan general wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes, hard to decipher, given the ongoing standoff between the Italian government and the ICC.
- General news outlets frequently cover the Almasri case, but also include updates on policies and legislation related to war-and-conflicts, such as Article 86 of the Rome Statute, which mandates Italy's cooperation with the ICC.
- Crime-and-justice sections in newspapers often highlight controversial cases like the Almasri case, where the release of a fugitive suspect, based on a procedural flaw, has led to complicated political maneuvers, accusations of peculation, and ongoing investigations and prosecutions of senior Italian officials.
