The Italian government was referred to the International Criminal Court due to alleged collusion with Libyan authorities.

Omissions

• The referral was specifically to the Assembly of States Parties, not a general referral to the ICC itself
• The reason was Italy's failure to execute an arrest warrant and surrender the suspect, not necessarily 'collusion' with Libyan authorities
• The suspect Osama Elmasry Njeem was released from Italian custody and flown to Libya on January 22, 2025, despite the ICC warrant issued on January 18, 2025
• The claim frames the issue as 'blackmail' between the Italian government and criminal groups, while the legal issue was non-compliance with ICC obligations under the Rome Statute
• All sources confirming this were published after the ICC decision on January 29, 2026, which was before the session date of April 28, 2026

Sources

• PrimaryInternational Criminal Court (ICC) Official WebsiteOn 29 January 2026 the Presidency of the International Criminal Court transmitted Pre-Trial Chamber I's Decision to refer Italy to the Assembly of States Parties for non-compliance with the Court's request to arrest and surrender Mr Almasri
• PrimaryICC Official Website - Arrest WarrantOn 18 January 2025, Pre-Trial Chamber I issued a warrant of arrest for Osama Elmasry Njeem for alleged crimes against humanity in Libya
• SecondaryANSA EnglishThe International Criminal Court (ICC) said Thursday that Italy has been referred to its Assembly of States Parties over the case of Njeem Almasri, a Libyan official suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity
• SecondaryUniversity of Padua Human Rights CentreThe decision refers to the failure to arrest and surrender to the ICC a Libyan citizen, Osama Almasry, or Emasri, also known as Almasri Njeem
• SecondaryEuropean Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)Italy failed to surrender Osama Elmasry Njeem, a high-ranking Libyan official wanted for crimes against humanity and war crimes, to the International Criminal Court (ICC)