International Criminal Court Prosecutes Malian for Destroying Cultural Property

On September 30, 2015, after a hearing involving Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, a Malian, before Judge Cuno Tarfusser, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Chamber found that the evidence presented by the Prosecutor establishes reasonable grounds to believe that Al Mahdi is criminally responsible for having committed, individually and jointly with others, facilitated or otherwise contributed to the commission of war crimes in regards to ten buildings dedicated to religion and historical monuments in Timbuktu, Mali. The case represents the first time the ICC has prosecuted cultural destruction as a war crime.