Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi transferred to UK prison facility to serve sentence

Today, the Presidency of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that on 29 August 2018, Mr Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi was transferred to Scotland, United Kingdom, to serve his sentence of imprisonment. The transfer of Mr Al Mahdi was not immediately announced while the Court considered a number of matters related to his safety and security.

The ICC relies on state support at the enforcement of sentence stage and is highly appreciative of the voluntary cooperation of the Scottish and United Kingdom Governments in respect of Mr Al Mahdi.

Mr Al Mahdi was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment on 27 September 2016, by Trial Chamber VIII, for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against religious and historic buildings in Timbuktu, Mali, in June and July 2012. Mr Al Mahdi was the first accused to make an admission of guilt at trial before the ICC. He has expressed remorse for his conduct and apologised to victims.

Persons convicted by the ICC serve their sentence in a State designated by the Court from a list of States which have indicated their willingness to allow convicted persons to serve their sentence. In the present case, the transfer of Mr Al Mahdi was implemented pursuant to article 103 of the Rome Statute, the Court's founding treaty, and the Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the International Criminal Court on the enforcement of sentences imposed by the International Criminal Court.

Background: On 27 September 2016, Trial Chamber VIII found Mr Al Mahdi guilty of the war crime consisting in intentionally directing attacks against religious and historic buildings in Timbuktu, Mali, in June and July 2012 and sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment. Mr Al Mahdi had pleaded guilty at the beginning of the trial.  On 17 August 2017, Trial Chamber VIII issued a Reparations Order concluding that Mr Al Mahdi was liable for individual and collective reparations for the community of Timbuktu. Noting that Mr Al Mahdi was indigent, the Chamber encouraged the Trust Funds for Victims to complement the reparations award and directed the TFV to submit a draft implementation plan. On 8 March 2018, the Appeals Chamber confirmed, for the most extent, the Reparations Order.  On 4 March 2019, Trial Chamber VIII issued its decision on the Updated Implementation Plan from the Trust Fund for Victims, approving the selection of projects presented by the Trust Fund for Victims in its updated plan, subject to certain conditions.

Further information on this case is available here.

For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: [email protected]

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