The International Criminal Court’s decision to confirm all 17 charges against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri and send the case to trial marks a historic breakthrough for survivors of crimes committed at Mitiga Prison and for accountability in Libya. This is the first trial arising from the ICC’s Libya investigation since the situation was referred to the Court in 2011. The decision recognizes the gravity and breadth of alleged crimes committed against Libyan and non-Libyan detainees, including migrants and refugees, and brings survivors an important step closer to access to justice, truth, and reparation.
“My greatest excitement and fulfilment come from the fact that I continued to place my trust in the ICC to uphold truth and justice on my behalf,” says David Yambio, founder and Executive Director of the survivor-led organisation, Refugees in Libya. “That trust came with an unwavering commitment in the face of the mental, physical, and psychological trauma I had to relive over and over again. In as much as my trust in the Court continues, I hope that this will not stop with El-Hishri – but will go on to hold EU actors accountable.”
Read the full statement below.
Photo credit: Clara Marnette (May 2026)
