The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced the former head of the Islamic police in Mali's historic city of Timbuktu to 10 years in prison for war crimes.
Prosecutors said al-Hassan ag Abdoul Aziz ag Mohamed ag Mahmoud led a “reign of terror” in the city after it was overrun in 2012 by the al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine group.
He was found guilty in June this year of torture, overseeing public amputations by machete, and the brutal floggings of residents, including children.
Hassan, aged 47, was acquitted on charges of rape and sexual slavery, as well as destroying Timbuktu’s ancient mausoleums.
Some rights groups had expressed disappointment that Hassan was charged but then acquitted of gender-based crimes.
According to the AFP news agency, the court heard that some women were arrested then raped in detention under the rule of Ansar Dine.
The ICC ruled that crimes of sexual violence had taken place, but Hassan was not found to bear responsibility for them.
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