The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor, Karim Khan, has urged the United Nations Security Council to support efforts to execute arrest warrants against six suspects accused of committing atrocities in Libya’s Tarhuna region.
Speaking from Tripoli on Tuesday, Khan emphasized the urgency of international cooperation to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice. The suspects are linked to the Al Kaniyat militia, which controlled Tarhuna, located approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Tripoli, from 2015 until their ouster by government forces in June 2020.
Arrest warrants for Abdurahem Khalefa Abdurahem Elshgagi (“Al Khani”), Makhlouf Makhlouf Arhoumah Doumah (“Douma”), Nasser Muhammad Muftah Daou (“Al Lahsa”), Mohamed Mohamed Al Salheen Salmi (“Salheen”), Abdelbari Ayyad Ramadan Al Shaqaqi (“Al Shaqaqi”), and Fathi Faraj Mohamed Salim Al Zinkal (“Al Zinkal”) were unsealed in October. These individuals are accused of crimes including murder, torture, sexual violence, and other acts that could amount to war crimes.
Khan highlighted the gravity of the situation in Tarhuna, where hundreds of bodies have been exhumed from mass graves since 2020. “Every household in Tarhuna has a victim,” Khan said, recounting his discussions with grieving families. “The heartbreak was palpable, but so was their steely determination for justice.”
He underlined the victims’ unwavering resolve for accountability. “Justice, accountability, and fair processes are essential for themselves, their families, their community, and Libya at large,” Khan added.
The ICC continues to call for robust international support to execute the arrest warrants and ensure justice for the victims of the alleged crimes.
