Alleged member of Ansar Eddine, a movement associated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, head of the "Hisbah" until September 2012, and associated with the work of the Islamic Court of Timbuktu. Arrest warrant: 28 September 2015.
Found guilty, sentenced to 9 years. Reparations Order for victims pronounced by judges and is final.
On 22 August 2016, the trial in the case The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi opened before Trial Chamber VIII at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. Mr Al Mahdi admitted guilt as to the war crime consisting in the destruction of historical and religious monuments in Timbuktu (Mali), between around 30 June 2012 and 11 July 2012. This is the first international trial focusing on the destruction of historical and religious monuments, and the first ICC case where the defendant made an admission of guilt.
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.
Today, 8 March 2018, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered its judgment confirming, for the most extent, the Reparations Order in the case The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi. Judge Howard Morrison, presiding Judge in this appeal, read a summary of the Appeals Judgment on the Legal Representative of Victims appeal against this Order.
On 8 March 2018 at 14:00 (The Hague local time), the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) will hold a public hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi at the seat of the Court in The Hague (Netherlands) to deliver its judgment on the appeal of the Legal Representative of Victims against the Reparations Order. The Appeals Chamber in this appeal is composed of Judge Howard Morrison, Presiding Judge, Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, Judge Christine Van den Wyngaert and Judge Piotr Hofmański.
Today, 17 August 2017, Trial Chamber VIII of the International Criminal Court ("ICC" or "Court") issued a Reparations Order in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, concluding that Mr Al Mahdi is liable for 2.7 million euros in expenses for individual and collective reparations for the community of Timbuktu for intentionally directing attacks against religious and historic buildings in that city.
Today, 27 September 2016, Trial Chamber VIII of the International Criminal Court (ICC) delivered its Judgment in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi. The Chamber unanimously found Mr Al Mahdi guilty beyond reasonable doubt as a co-perpetrator of the war crime consisting in intentionally directing attacks against religious and historic buildings in Timbuktu, Mali, in June and July 2012. The Chamber sentenced Mr Al Mahdi to nine years' imprisonment.