Hague court schedules confirmation hearing in Al-Hishri case

The International Criminal Court has announced that the confirmation of charges hearing in the case of the Prosecutor v. Khaled Mohammed Ali Al-Hishri will take place from 19 to 21 May 2026 before Pre-Trial Chamber I at its headquarters in The Hague.

In a statement, the court said Al-Hishri is considered one of the most senior officials associated with Mitiga prison in Tripoli, and is suspected of bearing responsibility for 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed at the facility between 1 May 2014 and 30 June 2020.

According to the court, the charges include imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, outrages upon personal dignity, cruel treatment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, as well as murder, attempted murder, enslavement and persecution of detainees.

The confirmation of charges hearing is a key stage in ICC proceedings, during which judges assess whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the suspect committed the alleged crimes. If confirmed, the case would proceed to trial.

Al-Hishri was arrested by German authorities on 16 July 2025 under a sealed warrant issued by the court, before being transferred to ICC custody on 1 December 2025.