Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy announced on Tuesday that she is under investigation by Italian prosecutors for her alleged involvement in facilitating the release of a Libyan official wanted on war crimes charges.
The investigation centers on Italy's recent arrest and swift release of Osama Elmasry Njeem, who oversees several Libyan prisons infamous for their poor conditions.
Mr. Njeem was apprehended by Italian police in a Turin hotel room following an international warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) in The Hague. He is wanted for crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, rape, and sexual violence.
Shortly after his arrest, Mr. Njeem was released due to what Italian authorities described as a procedural error. Consequently, he was returned to Libya on a government flight.
The release sparked backlash from human rights organizations and opposition figures, who accused Meloni of fostering close ties with Libyan authorities, given Italy's reliance on Libya to control migrant flows.
The I.C.C. also expressed concern, reminding states of their obligation to cooperate fully with the court in matters of investigation and prosecution. They requested clarification from Italian authorities regarding their actions.
In a video posted on social media, Meloni stated that Mr. Njeem's release was a result of the I.C.C.'s arrest warrant not being forwarded to the Italian justice ministry, rendering the arrest invalid. She added that Mr. Njeem was expelled back to Libya for security reasons.
Meloni asserted, "I cannot be blackmailed," vowing not to succumb to intimidation. She noted that Rome's chief prosecutor, Francesco Lo Voi, was also investigating Italy’s justice minister, Carlo Nordio, the interior minister, Matteo Piantedosi, and interior undersecretary, Alfredo Mantovano.
In her video, Meloni remarked on the timing of the I.C.C. warrant, suggesting it was “curious” that it was issued just as Mr. Njeem was about to enter Italy after spending time in three other European nations.
The announcement of the investigation into Meloni surprised Italian lawmakers, leading to tense moments in the lower house.
This case may reignite the ongoing conflict between the judiciary and Meloni, who has accused Italian judges of politicization in their legal pursuits.
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini highlighted that Lo Voi was the prosecutor who previously prosecuted him in connection with his refusal to allow a migrant rescue boat to dock in Italy five years ago. Salvini was acquitted of those charges in December and responded to the investigation by advocating for immediate judicial reform.
Some of Meloni's critics also expressed astonishment over the investigation. Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist party Azione, described the handling of Mr. Njeem's case as a "disaster," but remarked that an investigation into the prime minister seemed "surreal" and unlikely to occur in any other Western country.
Conversely, Giovanni Barbero of the Refounded Communist Party supported the investigation, stating it was necessary to address the "too many gray areas" surrounding the case and affirming that no one is above the law.