The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced 47-year-old al-Hassan Abdoul Aziz Mohamed Mahmoud, former head of the Islamic police in Timbuktu, Mali, to 10 years in prison for war crimes.
Prosecutors described Hassan’s actions as a “reign of terror” during the city’s occupation by the al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group in 2012. He was found guilty in June of torture, overseeing public amputations by machete, and brutal floggings of residents, including children.
However, Hassan was acquitted of charges related to rape, sexual slavery, and the destruction of Timbuktu’s historic mausoleums.
This sentencing marks a significant step in addressing human rights abuses during Mali’s conflict.