Jihadist liable for rampage at Timbuktu

A MALIAN jihadist is liable for ß2.7-million (R42-million) in personal damages for destroying Timbuktu’s fabled shrines in 2012, war crimes judges said yesterday as they ordered reparations in a landmark ruling.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) ordered that the victims of the razing of the west African city’s treasures be paid individual, collective and symbolic reparations.

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

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

It implements any reparations ordered by the court – including financial payments – and aids victims.

Funding is from public and private donors as well as court-ordered fines and forfeitures.

The fund has until February 16 to come up with a proposal on how to implement yesterday’s reparations award.

Judges further ordered that the Malian state and the international community be compensated with a symbolic amount of one euro each for damages suffered.

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

Timbuktu, founded by Tuareg 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 fanatics, its moderate Islam form was idolatrous.

The assault on the Unesco world heritage site triggered global censure, but led to a legal precedent.

Mahdi’s case was the first before the ICC as a crime of cultural destruction.

He had been jailed after he pleaded guilty to directing attacks on the world heritage site and apologised to the Timbuktu community.

A judge said the acts had destroyed part of humanity’s collective consciousness.