Almasri was sent back to Libya after he was arrested in Turin on a warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Almasri, the director of Tripoli’s notorious Mitiga detention centre, is wanted by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The allegations against him include murder, torture, rape and sexual violence, allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015 onwards.
He was flown back to Libya on a secret service flight two days after his January 19 arrest due to a technical issue with his case, sparking an outcry and leading the ICC to request clarification.
Italy has an agreement with Libya to provide aid for its coast guard in exchange for cooperation on combatting illegal migration crossings.
Government critics say Almasri is central to those operations.
“I deny, in the most categorical manner, that, in the hours in which the matter was handled, the government received any act or communication that could be, even remotely, considered a form of undue pressure assimilated to a threat or blackmail by anyone, as has been alleged in some moments of the public debate over the last few days,” Piantedosi told the Lower House as he and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio reported to parliament on the case.
“On the contrary, as always, every decision taken was taken purely on the basis of evaluations made on facts and situations with the exclusive perspective of protecting the interests of our country.”
Piantedosi reiterated that Almasri posed a danger to public safety.
He also said that Almasri “has never been an interlocutor with the government on matters concerning the management and fight against the complex phenomenon of migration”.
ANSA
