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Suspect in destruction of historic buildings in Mali arrives at ICC

Xinhua, September 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Alleged Islamic extremist Ahmad Al Mahdi Al Faqi, also known as Abu Tourab, was surrendered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the authorities of Niger and arrived at the Court's detention center in The Hague on Saturday.

Al Faqi, according to an ICC arrest warrant issued one week ago, was suspected of directing attacks against religious and historic buildings in the city of Timbuktu, Mali, committed between June 30. 2012 and July 10, 2012.

It is the first case to be brought before the ICC about the destruction of buildings dedicated to religion and historical monuments.

According to the evidence presented by the prosecutor, Al Faqi is criminally responsible for having committed, individually and jointly with others, facilitated or otherwise contributed to, the destruction of ten buildings, nine mausoleums and a mosque.

The ICC stated that Al Faqi was a member of Ansar Eddine, a mainly Tuareg movement associated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Throughout the period of the alleged facts Timbuktu was under the control of both armed groups. Al Faqi allegedly worked closely with the leaders of the groups.

According to the ICC Al Faqi was the head of the "Hesbah", "Manners' Brigade", from May to September 2012. He was also associated with the work of the Islamic Court of Timbuktu. Al Faqi is the first suspect to be detained in the investigation into alleged crimes committed in Mali since January 2012. The prosecutor had opened the investigation in January 2013.

"The people of Mali deserve justice for the attacks against their cities, their beliefs and their communities," ICC's chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

"Let there be no mistake: the charges we have brought against Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi involve most serious crimes; they are about the destruction of irreplaceable historic monuments, and they are about a callous assault on the dignity and identity of entire populations, and their religious and historical roots. The inhabitants of Northern Mali, the main victims of these attacks, deserve to see justice done," the prosecutor added. Endit