Verdict on Malian Jihadist Al Hassan at International Criminal Court

Judgment at the International Criminal Court

Judges at the International Criminal Court handed down a significant verdict on Wednesday, convicting a Malian jihadist, Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. These offenses took place during a nine-month period when terrorist groups occupied the historic city of Timbuktu.

The three-member panel highlighted that Al Hassan, a former police leader, played a pivotal role in the Islamist police force. He was responsible for organizing a repressive structure aimed at enforcing an extreme version of Shariah law, which starkly contrasted with the more tolerant form of Islam traditionally practiced in Timbuktu, known for its intellectual and cultural significance.

The presiding judge, Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua, announced the verdict, stating that Al Hassan was found guilty by a majority decision of various crimes, including torture, cruel treatment, and outrages upon personal dignity, particularly through public floggings.

In addition to war crimes, Al Hassan was also convicted of religious persecution and involvement in sham trials at an Islamist court. However, the judges noted that he was not complicit in crimes against women, such as rape and forced marriages to jihadist fighters, despite testimonies from several women.

Moreover, Al Hassan was acquitted of charges related to the destruction of mausoleums of Muslim saints, revered locally but deemed heretical by the jihadists.