The Prosecutor v. Al Faqi Al Mahdi

  • Country: Mali
  • Case Status: Trial Complete: Sentenced
  • Trial Opening: August 22, 2016

The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi

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Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi

Head of the Hisbah (under the Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM))

  • Allegations & Charges

      Factual Allegations

      The ICC Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) alleges that Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi was the head of the Hisbah (a morality brigade under the Ansar Dine and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)) and a member of Ansar Dine. The OTP alleges that, in April 2012, Mr. Al Mahdi established the Hisbah and was appointed its head; the Hisbah’s purpose was to promote a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam and eradicate any religious practices, such as worshipping tombs, which were considered false interpretations of Islam. 

      From June 30, 2012 to July 11, 2012, as alleged by the OTP, Mr. Al Mahdi directed, planned, and participated in the destruction of historical mausoleums and mosques (UNESCO World Heritage sites) in Timbuktu, Mali.  The destroyed mausoleums and mosques included: the Mausoleum of Sidi Mahamoud Ben Omar Mohamed Aquit, Mausoleum of Sheikh Mohamed Mahmoud Al Arawani, the Mausoleum of Sheikh Sidi El Mokhtar Ben Sidi Mouhammad Al Kabir Al Kounti, the Mausoleum of Sheikh Mouhamad El Mikki, the Mausoleum of the Sheikh Abdoul Kassim Attouaty, the Mausoleum of Alpha Moya, the Mausoleum Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Ben Amar Arragadi, Sidi Yahia Mosque, the Mausoleum of Bahaber Babadié, and the Mausoleum of Ahmed Fulane.

      ​Please visit the Court’s website for more information on The Prosecutor v. Al Mahdi.

      Charges

      The Accused is charged with seven counts of Directing Attacks against Religious Buildings and Historic Monuments, a war crime under Article 8(2)(e)(iv) of the Rome Statute. 

      He has been charged under the following modes of criminal liability:

      Committing crimes as an individual, jointly with another or through another person (Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute)

      Aiding, abetting, or otherwise assisting in the commission of crimes (Article 25(3)(c) of the Rome Statute)

      Intentionally contributing to the commission of crimes with the aim of furthering the criminal activity or purpose, or with knowledge of the intention to commit these crimes (Articles 25(3)(d)(i)-(ii) of the Rome Statute).