European Court of Human Rights is considering two cases against Italy for failing to execute an arrest warrant for Osama Najim

The European Court of Human Rights stated that it has notified the Italian government of two legal claims filed by individuals alleging they were victims of abuses at the hands of the former head of the judicial police, Osama Najim, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

The two claims center on accusations that Italian authorities failed to execute the ICC arrest warrant for Najim, despite his arrest within Italian territory.

Najim was arrested in Italy in January 2025, before being returned to Libya shortly afterward, a move that sparked widespread international human rights and legal criticism.

The court explained that notifying the Italian government of the two cases is a procedural step in the legal process, during which the concerned state is informed of the existence of a claim against it and is asked for additional information and observations regarding the facts presented.

The court emphasized that this step does not constitute acceptance of the claim or an establishment of a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, noting that a ruling on the case will be issued at a later stage of the legal proceedings.