ICC Appeals Chamber rejects the Libyan authorities’ request to suspend the surrender of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi to the Court
Today, 18 July 2013, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected the Libyan authorities’ request to suspend the surrender of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and recalled that Libya is currently obliged to surrender Mr Gaddafi to the Court.
The Libyan authorities had filed, on 7 June 2013, a request for suspensive effect pending the outcome of its appeal against the Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision rejecting the Libyan admissibility challenge regarding the case against the suspect. The Appeals Chamber was not convinced by the reasons provided as to why the surrender of Mr Gaddafi to the Court would create, for the Libyan authorities, an irreversible situation or one that would be very difficult to correct.
The situation in Libya was referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council, through the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1970 on 26 February 2011. On 27 June 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I issued warrants of arrest for Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity (murder and persecution) allegedly committed across Libya from 15 February 2011 until at least 28 February 2011, through the State apparatus and Security Forces. On 22 November 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I formally terminated the case against Muammar Gaddafi due to his death.
For further information on this case, please click here.
Decision on the request for suspensive effect and related issues
For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected].
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