Writer:Salima Aryaei
Judges of the International Criminal Court have ordered that more than sixty-five thousand victims of flogging and other punishments imposed by Islamist groups in the city of Timbuktu, Mali, be compensated with a total of eight and a half million dollars. This decision has been issued as part of a compensation program for the victims.
Alhassan Abdelaziz, a senior member of the Ansar Dine group and affiliated with al-Qaeda’s branch in the Maghreb, had issued orders for public flogging and other punishments in 2011. These actions took place during the period when armed groups controlled parts of northern Mali.
According to the court’s ruling, a large portion of this budget will be allocated for the rehabilitation and support of the victims. Educational programs, vocational training, and psychological counseling are among the provisions for the affected individuals.
The court has stated that women and girls were the primary victims of the actions of the religious police affiliated with Alhassan Abdelaziz. Therefore, special attention will be given to them in the rehabilitation and compensation programs.
During that period, women in Timbuktu were only allowed to leave their homes if they were covered according to specific guidelines, and many of them were afraid to go outside due to the prevailing atmosphere. Social and behavioral restrictions are among the recorded incidents in this case.
Alhassan Abdelaziz, who was convicted in 2024 for eight counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity at The Hague, declared during his sentencing that he was unable to pay the compensation. As a result, the Victims’ Trust Fund of the court has been asked to assist in covering the costs.
The Trust Fund has until January of the next year to prepare and submit the compensation implementation plan for final approval by the judges. The process of paying the compensation will begin once the plan is approved.
Alhassan Abdelaziz has been sentenced to ten years in prison, of which he has served approximately six years in detention. In 2018, he was also prosecuted for crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, sexual slavery, and other inhuman acts.
According to the International Criminal Court, Alhassan was a senior member of the religious police affiliated with Ansar Dine. He surrendered to the court a few days after the arrest warrant was issued in December 2017, and his trial began in June 2020.
The International Criminal Court had previously announced that other individuals are also under investigation or prosecution for similar punishments.
