June 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found 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, guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, although his sentence will be known later.
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.
According to the court, Al Hassan, after being recruited, “became a high-ranking member of the Islamic police”, assuming “a leadership role” in the crimes that were committed and even participating in the punishments.
“He participated in the work of the Islamic court as a member of the Islamic police, including by drafting and signing police reports, participating in the transfer of accused persons and carrying out sentences and convictions,” the statement issued by the ICC said.
Although women and girls in Timbuktu were the groups that suffered most from the arrival of Ansar Dine, the ICC has acquitted Al Hassan of sexual offences, 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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