Gaddafi ICC trial to go ahead, say appeals judges
On Wednesday, 21 May 2014, the ICC Appeals Chamber confirmed the admissibility of the Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi case before the ICC. The Chamber concluded that the Pre-Trial Chamber I (PTC I) judges had not erred in finding that Libya had fallen short of proving that its national investigation covers the same case before the ICC.
The Chamber issued this ruling in response to Libya’s 7 June 2013 appeal against a PTC I decision confirming the admissibility of the case against Gaddafi. In the decision, PTC I rejected Libya’s challenge to the admissibility of the case against Gaddafi and reminded Libya of its obligation to surrender Gaddafi.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International each called for Libya to comply with its obligation to immediately transfer Gaddafi to The Hague.
However, No Peace Without Justice criticized the ruling, arguing that it risks undermining the Libyan people’s confidence in their justice system at a very critical time.
On 27 June 2011, PTC I issued a warrant of arrest for Gaddafi for alleged crimes against humanity committed in Libya from 15 February until at least 28 February 2011.
