Initial appearance of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi scheduled for 30 September 2015

Situation: Mali
Case: The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi

The initial appearance of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi before the single Judge of Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Cuno Tarfusser, is scheduled for Wednesday, 30 September 2015, at 11:00 (The Hague local time). Mr Al Faqi was transferred to the ICC on 26 September 2015 following an arrest warrant issued by the Court on 18 September 2015 for war crimes.

During the initial appearance hearing, the single Judge will verify the identity of the suspect and the language in which he is able to follow the proceedings. He will be informed of the charges against him.

Background: 

It is alleged that Mr Al Faqi, born in Agoune, 100 kilometers west of Timbuktu, Mali, from the Ansar Tuareg tribe, was an active personality in the context of the occupation of Timbuktu. He allegedly was a member of Ansar Eddine, working closely with the leaders of the two armed groups and in the context of the structures and institutions established by them. It is alleged that, until September 2012, he was at the head of the "Hesbah" ("Manners' Brigade"), operational from May 2012. He was also associated with the work of the Islamic Court of Timbuktu and has participated in executing its decisions. Specifically, it is alleged that he was involved in the destruction of the buildings mentioned in the charges. 

The Chamber found that the evidence presented by the Prosecutor establish reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Al Faqi is criminally responsible for having committed, individually and jointly with others, facilitated or otherwise contributed to the commission of war crimes alleged by the Prosecutor regarding intentionally directing attacks against the following buildings: 1) the mausoleum Sidi Mahmoud Ben Omar Mohamed Aquit, 2) the mausoleum Sheikh Mohamed Mahmoud Al Arawani, 3) the mausoleum Sheikh Sidi Mokhtar Ben Sidi Muhammad Ben Sheikh Alkabir, 4) the mausoleum Alpha Moya, 5) the mausoleum Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Ben Amar Arragadi, 6) the mausoleum Sheikh Muhammad El Micky, 7) the mausoleum Cheick Abdoul Kassim Attouaty, 8) the mausoleum Ahamed Fulane, 9) the mausoleum Bahaber Babadié, and 10) Sidi Yahia mosque.

For further information on the case, click here.

Order convening a hearing for the first appearance of Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi

Webstreaming

The hearings can be followed live on the ICC website at: English, French

Attending the hearing

• Journalists wishing to cover the hearing are kindly invited to request attendance via email to: [email protected]. All journalists must present a valid press card at the public entrance of the Court, located at Regulusweg (The Hague).
• Members of the diplomatic corps, NGOs and other members of the public wishing to attend the hearing are kindly invited to request attendance via email to: [email protected]. Attendees must present a valid passport or valid ID with a photo at the public entrance of the Court, located at Regulusweg (The Hague).

Please note that individuals who do not receive a confirmation in advance cannot be guaranteed access to the hearing.

AV materials

Filming or photography is strictly prohibited inside the Court building. However pictures of the hearing will be posted on the Court's Flickr account.

Audio-visual materials will be available for download on an FTP server in video (MPEG-4) and audio (MPEG-3) format and for viewing on the official ICC YouTube Channel.

Media Centre

For media representatives wishing to use the Court's media facilities, the media centre will open from 09:30 until two hours after the end of the hearing.

The area can sit up to 64 people and includes plasma TV screens; a Wi-Fi internet service; cards (plug + play) for those without Wi-Fi capability in their PC or laptop; 6 computers with internet access; 7 telephones that may be used free of charge for internal calls. For external calls, journalists are advised to purchase 0800 pre-paid phone cards beforehand. Such cards are available at newsagents and train stations. Please note that phone cards cannot be obtained in the vicinity of, or at, the ICC.

Parking facilities

Parking facilities are available for media representatives at the Regulusweg and Wegastraat car-parks.

SNG trucks

SNG trucks are not allowed to park alongside the ICC building, but should go to the car park located at the intersection of Regulusweg and Wegastraat.

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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