The International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered a guilty verdict against Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud, an al-Qaeda-linked jihadist charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Mali. The atrocities include torture, rape, sexual slavery, and destruction of religious and historic buildings during the insurgents’ rule over Timbuktu in 2012.
Prosecutors accused Al Hassan of overseeing brutal punishments like amputations and floggings, with women being the primary targets. The ICC linked him to forced marriages, rape, and floggings of women accused of adultery. The reign of terror by Ansar Dine, affiliated with al-Qaeda, left a lasting impact on Timbuktu, including the destruction of iconic shrines.
Mali has been grappling with Islamist insurgency for over a decade, affecting neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Niger. The recent rise of military juntas following coups adds to the region’s instability. Al Hassan’s case mirrors that of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, another Ansar Dine member sentenced by the ICC in 2016 for destroying religious sanctuaries in Timbuktu.
\
[ad_2]
Source link
