ICC hands Malian Islamist 9 years jail terms for destroying cultural heritage

The ICC has sentenced a member of the Ansar Dine Islamist group to 9 years in prison for destroying historical buildings in Timbuktu, Mali, marking the first time it has ruled on a crime related to cultural artefacts. "The chamber unanimously finds that Mr. Al-Mahdi is guilty of the crime of attacking protected sites as a war crime," Judge Paul Pangalangan told the court on Tuesday. 

Considering Mahdi's cooperation with the prosecutors and his impeccable behaviour during detention, judges awarded him with a sentence of 9 years in jail.