The International Criminal Court (ICC) has convicted al-Hassan ag Abdoul Aziz ag Mohamed ag Mahmoud, the former head of the Islamic police in Timbuktu, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including forcing hundreds of women into sexual slavery. This landmark conviction sheds light on the atrocities committed in the historic city of Timbuktu when it was seized by the al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group in 2012.
Prosecutors presented evidence that al-Hassan led a “reign of terror” in Timbuktu, enforcing brutal punishments and overseeing the systematic torture, rape, and sexual enslavement of women. Additionally, he played a role in the destruction of ancient mausoleums, further contributing to the cultural and historical devastation of the city.
Al-Hassan was handed over to the ICC in 2018 by Malian authorities, five years after French troops had liberated Timbuktu from the jihadists. During the occupation, Ansar Dine, alongside other Islamist groups, capitalized on an ethnic Tuareg uprising to seize control of northern Malian cities.
In his capacity as police chief, al-Hassan was responsible for the enforcement of strict Sharia laws, often meting out harsh punishments. Women, in particular, faced severe repercussions for minor infractions, such as failing to wear gloves in the market, which could result in immediate lashings.
This conviction by the ICC underscores the international community’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity, and it highlights the severe human rights abuses suffered by the people of Timbuktu during the jihadist occupation.
