Mali: Former Islamic Police Chief receives decade-long sentence for war crimes

The International Criminal Court has issued a 10-year prison sentence to Al-Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud for war crimes committed during his leadership of Timbuktu’s Islamic police. The 47-year-old defendant was found guilty of orchestrating torture and overseeing brutal punishments during the 2012 occupation by the Ansar Dine group.

While convicted of organizing public amputations and floggings, including against children, Al-Hassan was acquitted of charges relating to sexual violence and the destruction of historic mausoleums. The court acknowledged the occurrence of sexual crimes during Ansar Dine’s rule but determined he bore no direct responsibility.

The presiding judge deemed the sentence proportionate to the crimes’ gravity, considering mitigating factors including limited assistance to civilians and cooperation with prosecutors. The defendant’s six years in detention will count toward his sentence. Both prosecution and defense teams have filed appeals against various aspects of the verdict.

Human rights organizations expressed disappointment regarding the sexual violence acquittals, citing victim testimonies of detention center assaults. The case highlights the extensive damage inflicted on Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its Islamic scholarship from the 13th to 17th centuries.

This verdict follows the earlier nine-year sentence of another Ansar Dine member for destroying ancient shrines. The court will address victim reparations in subsequent proceedings. The decision represents a significant step in addressing war crimes in Mali’s ongoing conflict.