HighlightTrending Story

Militant liable for over N1 billion damage, ICC rules

125

War crimes judges said on Thursday that a Malian militant was liable for €2.7 million (N1,261,958,792.13) in personal damages for destroying Timbuktu’s fabled shrines in 2012, as they ordered reparations in a landmark ruling.

The International Criminal Court ordered that the victims of the razing of the fabled West African city’s historic treasures be paid “individual, collective and symbolic” reparations.

But the judges at The Hague-based tribunal also recognised that Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi — jailed last September for nine years — was penniless, saying it was now up to the Trust Fund for Victims to decide how the outstanding amount will have to be paid.

The fund was created in 2004 by the ICC’s state parties with the aim of addressing harms resulting from genocide, crimes of humanity and war crimes.

It implements any reparations ordered by the court — including financial payments — and aids victims. Funding comes from public and private donors as well as court-ordered fines and forfeitures.

 

The fund now has until February 16 to come up with a plan how to implement Thursday’s reparations award.
Judges further ordered the Malian state and the international community be compensated with a symbolic amount of €1 each for damages suffered.

Militants used pickaxes and bulldozers against nine mausoleums and the centuries-old door of the Sidi Yahya mosque, part of a golden age of Islam after over-running northern Mali in 2012.

Timbuktu, founded by Tawareq tribes between the fifth and 12th centuries, has been nicknamed “the city of 333 saints,” referring to the number of Muslim sages buried there.

During a halcyon period in the 15th and 16th century, the city was revered as a centre of Islamic learning — but for 21st century extremist militants, its moderate form of Islam was idolatrous.

The assault on the Unesco World Heritage site triggered global opprobrium, but also led to a legal precedent.

Al Mahdi’s case was the first to come before The Hague-based ICC as a crime of cultural destruction.
He was jailed for nine years in 2016 after he pleaded guilty to directing attacks on the world heritage site and apologised to the Timbuktu community.

The destruction of the shrines carried “a message of terror and helplessness and destroyed part of humanity’s shared memory and collective consciousness,” judge Raul Pangalangan said.

“It renders humanity unable to transmit its values and knowledge to future generations,” he added.
Jailing Al Mahdi sent a strong warning that destroying cultural heritage would not go unpunished, and reparations will aim to “alleviate the lasting imprints” of the crime, Alina Balta at Tilburg University’s International Victimology Institute said.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Latest Kaduna terrorists’ attack: Vigilantes killed, two village heads, others abducted

Suspected bandits have reportedly attacked Maraban Agyaro, where they abducted the village...

Policeman who fatally shot man during petrol queue melee in Lagos identified, say police

The trigger-happy police officer who shot a young man, Toheeb Eniafe, at...

Gas explosion: Gas Minister visits Ogun as governor tightens truck regulations to improve road safety

The Ogun State Government is to introduce a policy that would enforce...

Security: Real-time aerial surveillance cameras, data-gathering sensors for FCT – Minister

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, is set...

South-South governors back Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

The south-south governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Edo, and Delta states...

Suspected killer of 14-year-old Nigerian Daniel Anjorin in East London sword attack hauled up in court

Following the killing of 14-year-old Nigerian Daniel Anjorin in an east London...

London sword attack on Anjorin: 36-year-old suspect in police net

The 36-year-old suspect in the fatal London sword attack is currently being...

14-year-old Nigerian-born, Daniel Anjorin named as the victim of a sword attack in London

The 14-year-old boy killed by a sword-wielding man in Hainault, London has...

Lagos Landmark Beach demolition: FG compensates tenants, business owners

In response to mounting tension over the demolition of buildings and businesses...

Lagos gas explosion: One tragedy too many, pregnant woman, eight others seriously injured

A gas explosion in the Ajegunle-Apapa area of Lagos has left at...

FG signs Executive executive order to unlock $10bln investment in oil and gas

President Bola Tinubu has signed an Executive Order to unlock up to...

Port Harcourt-Aba train service inaugurated amid citizens’ excitement

The commercial train service for the Port Harcourt-Aba line began operation on...

Nigeria to produce 4,000 metric tonnes of lithium daily – VP Shettima

In the not-too-distant future, President Bola Tinubu will inaugurate Nigeria`s largest lithium...

Breaking: NFF appoints Finidi George as Head Coach of Super Eagles

The Board of the Nigeria Football Federation has approved the recommendation of...

Just in: Edo Gov. Obaseki announces N70, 000 new minimum wage

Ahead of the announcement of a new minimum wage by the Federal...

Customers Not Enjoying 20 Hours Electricity Will Not Pay New Tariff – Adelabu

The Minister of Power, Dr. Adebayo Adelabu, has said any customer not...

Monarch wants writers to participate in politics as Dr. Omotosho emerges as first SWAF president

A prominent monarch in Ogun State and Olowu of Owu in Abeokuta,...

$1m bribe: Apologise in a week or face legal action, Sports Minister Enoh tells Bash Alli

The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Enoh, has said that he...

Contract variation: FG pays Julius Berger N20bln for Bodo-Bonny Road

The Federal Government says it has paid Julius Berger a N20 billion...

Breaking: Ondo Gov. Aiyedatiwa’s campaign coordinator assassinated

Alaba Excel Abbey, one of the campaign coordinators of Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa...