June 27 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, has assured that the conviction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against one of the leaders of the Malian Islamist group Ansar Dine, Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmud, also known as Abdulaziz al Hassan , for war crimes and crimes against humanity, is an “important milestone” regarding accountability and reparation for victims.
“The conviction is another significant milestone in accountability and a step forward in efforts to bring justice to the victims of crimes and reaffirms that impunity will not be tolerated. The Secretary-General’s thoughts are with the victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Timbuktu, Mali, of which Al Hassan has been found guilty,” Guterres said in a statement published by his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric.
The ICC has found Al Hassan guilty of crimes of torture between April 2012 and January 2013, when he headed the Islamic police of this organization affiliated with Al Qaeda, which among other things invaded the city of Timbuktu, northern Mali. , in 2012.
Although women and girls from Timbuktu were the groups that suffered the most from the arrival of Ansar Dine, the CFI has acquitted Al Hassan of crimes of a sexual nature, slavery and rape, considering that these facts could not be proven, as well as of the destruction of historic buildings.
Al Hassan, who surrendered to the court in 2018, listened impassively to the sentence. His defense alleged at all times during the trial that he was forced by his superiors to carry out these orders at the risk of his own life.
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