The International Criminal Court on Monday unsealed an arrest warrant for the former head of Libya’s Internal Security Agency, saying he was suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in repressing opposition to former ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
In a statement, the ICC said judges ordered Mohamed Khaled Al-Tuhamy’s 2013 warrant on charges including torture and persecution unsealed, after a request by Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda.
According to the warrant, between February and August 2011, the Libyan military, intelligence and security agencies carried out attacks on the civilian population “in furtherance of a policy designed by the Libyan state to quash the political opposition to the Gaddafi regime by any means.”
Prisoners in various places across Libya “were subjected to various forms of mistreatment, including severe beatings, electrocution, acts of sexual violence and rape, solitary confinement” as well as mock executions.
As head of the agency from February to August 2011, Khaled “had the authority to implement Gaddafi’s orders,” it added, the Gulf Time reports.
Bensouda believes the unsealed warrant “could foster support and cooperation for an arrest operation from the international community.” Reuters reports
