AfriForum welcomes the ruling by the International Criminal Court today in the case against Ahmad Al Faki Al Mahdi and describes it as a stern warning to anyone who scorns or violates heritage features.

The case against Al Mahdi is unique as it is the first time that this Court tried someone on a charge of violating heritage sites. As a member of an Al-Qaeda-related military group, Al Mahdi gave the order to destroy monuments in Timbuktu, Mali, when these powers occupied the city in 2012. According to the Statute of Rome, the damaging or destruction of historic buildings and monuments constitutes a war crime. Despite the fact that no aggravating circumstances could be found against him and that there were six grounds for mitigation of his sentence, Al Mahdi was still sentenced to nine years in jail.

According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, the case is of great significance as the preservation of heritage in South Africa is currently in the crossfire.

“The ruling and sentence prove that heritage does not only have great meaning for the community that is directly affected, but that it also belongs to the broader international community. People who randomly damage, destroy or have heritage resources removed from the public eye have to take cognisance of Al Mahdi’s sentence.”

The authorities who are responsible for South Africa’s heritage preservation often do not have the political will to take a stance against heritage violators. The ruling therefore also sends a stern warning to them. AfriForum is often involved in various cases of vandalising of heritage, and it is possible that some of these cases may lead to similar international charges in future.

Issued by AfriForum