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People detained by the International Criminal Court

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FieldValue
prison_nameICC detention centre
image[[Image:Scheveningse gevangenis 001.jpg200pxScheveningen prison complex]]
locationScheveningen, The Hague
coordinates
capacity12
opened2006
managed_byThe ICC registrar

People detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) are held in the ICC's detention centre, which is located within a Dutch prison in Scheveningen, The Hague. The ICC was established in 2002 as a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. As of June 2018, it has issued public arrest warrants for 42 individuals, six of whom are currently in custody of the court.

The ICC detention centre is for holding people who have been charged with crimes, not for imprisoning convicted criminals. As such, all detainees are considered innocent until their guilt has been proven. Upon conviction by the ICC, criminals are transferred outside the Netherlands to serve their sentences.

Detention centre

Main article: United Nations Detention Unit

The ICC currently has twelve detention cells in a Dutch prison in Scheveningen, The Hague. Suspects held by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals are held in the same prison and share some facilities, like the fitness room, but have no contact with suspects held by the ICC.

The ICC registrar is responsible for managing the detention centre. and Chapter 5 of the Regulations of the Registry. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has unrestricted access to the detention centre.

Facilities

Each individual has their own toilet and washing area. Each has access to a small gym and is offered training with a physical education instructor.

Detainees are provided with meals, but they may also cook for themselves, purchase food from the prison shop, and have ingredients ordered in. However, Charles Taylor's lawyers have complained that "the food which is served is completely Eurocentric and not palatable to the African palate".

Each detainee has a personal computer in their cell, on which they can view material related to their case. A specific computer is designated to the defence, where they can upload case-related material for the detainee to view and comment on. They are offered computer training, if required, and language courses. Additionally, detainees are given access to fresh air, recreational and sports activities, as well as television and news.

Detainees' rights

Detainees are allowed to communicate in private with their defense teams and diplomatic representatives of their countries of origin. They are permitted visits from family members, spouses and partners, and spiritual advisors.

List of detainees

The following table lists all the people who have been held at the ICC detention centre since it was established in 2006. The first person detained by the court was Thomas Lubanga, who arrived at the detention centre on March 17, 2006.

Three former prisoners have been released or transferred, including Charles Taylor, who was tried in the Special Court for Sierra Leone. His trial was held at the ICC's facilities in The Hague because of political and security concerns about holding the trial in Freetown.

NameImageArrivedDepartedNotesRef.
Democratic Republic of the CongoSentence of 14 years' imprisonment. On 19 December 2015, he was transferred to a prison facility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to serve his sentence of imprisonment.
Liberia[[File:Charles Taylor 1984 mugshot (cropped).jpg100px]]Tried by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, transferred to the United Kingdom to serve his sentence of 50 years' imprisonment.
Democratic Republic of the Congo[[File:German Katanga during his trial in Kinshasa, 2016.png100px]]Sentence of 12 years' imprisonment. On 13 November 2015, the Appeals Chamber reduced his sentence. The date for the completion of the sentence is set to 18 January 2016. On 19 December 2015, Germain Katanga was transferred to a prison facility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to serve his sentence of imprisonment.
DR CongoReleased following acquittal; appeal confirming previous sentence
DR Congo[[File:The Vice President of Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Jean Pierre Bemba calls on the Vice President Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi on March 3, 2005 (cropped).jpg100px]]Sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment as of 21 June 2016. His war crimes conviction was overturned on June 8, 2018. He has one appeal remaining regarding witness tampering.
Bosnia[[File:RadovanKaradzic.jpg100px]]Tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, sentenced to life imprisonment on 20 March 2019. Moved to a prison on the Isle of Wight on 26 May 2021.
RwandaReleased following dismissal of charges
Bosnia[[File:Mladić Trial Judgement (crop).jpg100px]]—Tried by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, sentenced to life imprisonment on 22 November 2017. Verdict and sentence were confirmed in June 2021. He remains incarcerated in The Hague.
Côte d'Ivoire[[File:Laurent Gbagbo (2008).jpg100px]]Acquitted of charges. He was released conditionally on February 1, 2019, to reside in Belgium, because prosecutors appealed after his initial acquittal. Verdict was confirmed in 2021, and Gbagbo returned to Côte d'Ivoire on 17 June 2021.
RwandaFound guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was transferred to Belgian prison on 14 December 2022.
Central African RepublicCase in appeal stage
DR CongoCase closed. He was sentenced in total to 6 months’ imprisonment.
Central African RepublicCase in appeal stage
Central African RepublicCase closed
Côte d'IvoireAcquitted of charges. He was conditionally released, as prosecutors appealed against verdict. After confirmation of his acquittal in 2021, he returned to Côte d'Ivoire on 26 November 2022.
Uganda18 December 2023Sentence of 25 years' imprisonment. Found guilty of 61 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The appeals chamber confirmed the guilt and verdict on 15 December 2022. Transferred to a Norwegian prison on 18 December 2023.
MaliPleaded guilty; sentenced to nine years' imprisonment on September 27, 2016. Transferred to a UK prison on May 3, 2019.
Mali—Convicted of all but 3 charges on 26 June 2024, subsequently sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.
Central African Republic—Convicted of various charges on 24 July 2025, sentenced the same day to 15 years' imprisonment.
Central African Republic[[File:Ngaissona.png100px]]—Convicted of various charges on 24 July 2025, sentenced the same day to 12 years' imprisonment.
Sudan Ali Kushayb—Convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity on 6 October 2025. Sentenced 9 December 2025 to 20 years' imprisonment.
KenyaDied on 27 September 2022; proceedings withdrawn on 14 October 2022
Central African Republic—On trial
Central African Republic[[File:Maxime Mokom.jpg100px]]Released after charges were withdrawn
Philippines[[File:President Rodrigo Duterte portrait (cropped).jpg100px]]–Arrested

References

References

  1. United Nations Department of Public Information (December 2002). [https://www.un.org/News/facts/iccfact.htm ''The International Criminal Court'']. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  2. Emma Thomasson (February 28, 2006). ''[http://www.publicinternationallaw.org/warcrimeswatch/archives/wcpw_vol01issue02.html#u2 ICC says cells ready for Uganda war crimes suspects] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-09-28 ''. Reuters. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.)
  3. "''Regulations of the Court''".
  4. "''Regulations of the Registry''".
  5. "''Agreement between the International Criminal Court and the International Committee of the Red Cross on Visits to Persons deprived of Liberty Pursuant to the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court''".
  6. International Criminal Court (April 2006). [http://www.icc-cpi.int/library/about/newsletter/07/en_04.html ''FAQ about detention put to Terry Jackson, Chief Custody Officer of the ICC''] {{webarchive. link. (2007-10-10 . ICC Newsletter No. 7. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.)
  7. "''ICC Detention Centre''".
  8. link. (2015-09-24 ''. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.)
  9. Alexandra Hudson (May 31, 2007). [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L31697300.htm ''Warlord Taylor's home is lonely Dutch prison'']. Reuters. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  10. BBC News (June 20, 2006). ''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-10878424 Q&A: Trying Charles Taylor]''. Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
  11. "''The Prosecutor v. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo'' (ICC-01/04-01/06)". ICC.
  12. (2013-10-15). "Charles Taylor Transferred to the UK for the Enforcement of his Sentence". SCSL.
  13. (2006-06-21). "ICC - The Special Court for Sierra Leone to use ICC Facilities for Trial of Charles Taylor". ICC.
  14. (2014-03-07). "Germain Katanga found guilty of four counts of war crimes and one count of crime against humanity committed in Ituri, DRC". ICC.
  15. "''The Prosecutor v. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui'' (ICC-01/04-02/12)". ICC.
  16. "''The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo'' (ICC-01/05-01/08)". ICC.
  17. (2019-03-20). "Ex-Bosnian Serb wartime leader Karadzic given life in prison". Reuters.
  18. (2021-05-29). "War criminal Radovan Karadzic behind bars on Isle of Wight". Isle of Wight County Press.
  19. "''The Prosecutor v. Callixte Mbarushimana'' (ICC-01/04-01/10)". ICC.
  20. "''The Prosecutor v. Laurent Gbagbo'' (ICC-02/11-01/11)". ICC.
  21. "''The Prosecutor v. Bosco Ntaganda'' (ICC-01/04-02/06)". ICC.
  22. "''The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, Aimé Kilolo Musamba, Jean-Jacques Mangenda Kabongo, Fidèle Babala Wandu and Narcisse Arido'' (ICC-01/09-01/13)". ICC.
  23. (2014-03-18). "ICC-CPI-20140318-MA154: Initial appearance of Narcisse Arido scheduled for 20 March 2014". ICC.
  24. (2014-03-22). "ICC-CPI-20140322-PR988: Charles Blé Goudé transferred to the ICC". ICC.
  25. "Ongwen Case".
  26. [https://www.icc-cpi.int/mali/al-mahdi/Documents/AlMahdiEng.pdf Situation in the Republic of Mali: The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi] {{webarchive. link. (2016-08-03 (last updated August 24, 2016).)
  27. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37438360 Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi: The vandal of Timbuktu], BBC News (September 27, 2016).
  28. [https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/ahmad-al-faqi-al-mahdi-transferred-uk-prison-facility-serve-sentence Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi transferred to UK prison facility to serve sentence]{{webarchive. link. (2023-07-16 .)
  29. (2018-03-27). "Situation en République du Mali – Affaire – Le procureur c. Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud".
  30. (2018-03-31). "Situation in Mali: Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud surrendered to the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Timbuktu".
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