One of the alleged leaders of a notorious prison in Libya should face the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of torture, murder and rape, prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told judges in The Hague on Tuesday.
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri committed indescribably cruel crimes, Khan said. He was arrested in Berlin last year and handed over to the ICC.
Judges at the court in the Dutch city must first examine whether the evidence is sufficient to open a main trial. It is not yet known when they will decide.
The prosecution accuses him of 17 crimes against humanity and war crimes at the Mitiga prison in Tripoli from 2015 to 2020. There were allegedly thousands of victims and children were among them.
El Hishri "personally raped, tortured, murdered, persecuted," the prosecutor said. She said he also ordered other crimes against political opponents and African migrants.
People were also enslaved, the prosecutor added, saying El Hishri ensured a "climate of terror." She quoted witnesses saying he was the "worst torturer."
The 47-year-old followed the hearing with an impassive expression. He initially said nothing about the allegations in court.
It is the first case about crimes in Libya before the world's criminal court, which is recognized by many countries. After the fall of Libyan ruler Moamer Gaddafi in 2011, militias fought for power and the rule of law suffered.
The UN Security Council tasked the court with seeking criminal prosecution.
