A court in Tripoli has sentenced Osama Najeem Almasri to seven years and four months in prison for violating the rights of detainees, marking a significant development in one of Libya's most controversial legal cases. The former commander of Mitiga prison had been under investigation by Libya's Attorney General following allegations of abuse and mistreatment of inmates.

Prosecutors accused Almasri of involvement in the torture of at least ten prisoners and in the death of a detainee allegedly resulting from mistreatment. In addition to the prison sentence, the court stripped him of certain civil rights and legal privileges for the duration of his sentence and for one year afterward.

The case has attracted international attention because Almasri remains the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The Hague-based tribunal accuses him of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence allegedly committed at Mitiga prison since 2015.

His name became widely known in Italy in January 2025, when he was arrested in Turin under the ICC warrant. Following his release by Italian authorities, he was flown back to Libya aboard a government aircraft, a move that sparked political controversy and criticism from human rights organizations. While the Libyan verdict represents a major judicial step, it does not automatically close the ICC case. The court will now assess whether the Libyan proceedings satisfy the requirements of international justice under the principle of complementarity.