Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi

Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi
Born1975 (age 48–49)
Agoune, Mali
NationalityMalian
OccupationCivil servant
EmployerMalian government
Known forFirst person convicted by the ICC for such a crime
MovementAnsar Dine
Criminal statusReleased
Criminal chargeAttacking religious and historical buildings
PenaltyNine years in prison (commuted to 7 years in 2021)
Wanted since18 September 2015
Details
Span of crimes
30 June 2012 – 10 July 2012
CountryMali
Location(s)Timbuktu
Target(s)10 religious buildings

Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi (also known as Abu Tourab) was a member of Ansar Dine, a Tuareg Islamist militia in North Africa. Al-Mahdi admitted guilt in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2016 for the war crime of attacking religious and historical buildings in the Malian city of Timbuktu. Al-Mahdi was the first person convicted by the ICC for such a crime, and in general the first individual to ever be prosecuted solely on the basis of cultural crimes.[1] He was sentenced to nine years in prison. On 25 November 2021, his sentence was commuted to 7 years in prison, and he was released on 18 September 2022.[2]

  1. ^ "Emerging Voices: A Case of Firsts for the International Criminal Court: Destruction of Cultural Heritage as a War Crime, Islamic Extremism and a Guilty Plea". Opinio Juris. 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
  2. ^ "Al-Mahdi Case (The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi)". International Criminal Court.