A prison boss murdered and raped inmates, earning the nickname “Angel of Death”, the International Criminal Court has been told. The man is accused of 17 crimes against humanity and war crimes at the prison between 2015 and 2020.
The court in The Hague, Netherlands, heard how Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, allegedly killed and raped prisoners, sometimes in front of their own children, at the infamous Mitiga prison in Libya. His alleged crimes took place following the death of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, with deputy prosecutor Nazhat Khan telling judges there are nearly 1,000 victims in the case. Meanwhile, El Hishri, wearing a blue suit and blue tie, remained motionless as the charges against him were read.
As reported by the Mirror, the 47-year-old was a senior commander at the prison in Tripoli. He was in charge of the women’s section where sexual violence was commonplace.
Mitiga prison is a notorious detention facility, known for its torture, unlawful detentions and human rights abuses. It is controlled by local militias with detainees ranging from migrants and refugees to political opponents.
Prosecutors said El Hishri always carried a gun and was known for shooting prisoners in the leg or knee. Although the hearing is not a trial, it allows prosecutors to present their case in court, after which judges have 60 days to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to put El Hishri on trial.
The former prison boss was arrested in Germany last July before being sent to the Netherlands in December. He is set to be the first Libyan suspect to go to trial at the International Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, a further nine Libyan suspects, including one of Gaddafi’s sons, are also wanted by the court. One of the suspects, Ossama Anjiem, also known as Ossama al-Masri, is accused of crimes committed at Mitiga prison. He was arrested in Italy but later released on a technicality, prompting widespread outrage.
Matteo Renzi, the country’s former premier and leader of the Viva Italia Party, said: “But when a trafficker whom the International Criminal Court tells us is a dangerous criminal lands on your table, it’s not like you chase him down, you brought him home to Libya with a plane of the Italian secret services. Either you’re sick or this is the image of a hypocritical, indecent government.”
