The Hague: In a landmark ruling on Tuesday, judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) ruled that more than 65,000 victims of atrocities in Mali should be paid a total of $8.5 million in compensation. The decision comes in the case in which Al Hassan Ag Abdul Aziz was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to the court, this compensation will be provided primarily through collective rehabilitation programs, rather than direct cash payments. This will include services such as education programs, skills training, and mental health support. These measures will focus particularly on women and girls who suffered the most persecution.
The case relates to events that occurred in the historic city of Timbuktu in Mali in 2012, when Islamist groups imposed strict Sharia law. During this period, the religious police exerted control over every aspect of society, imposing particularly severe restrictions on the freedom of women and girls.
In their ruling, the judges stated that women and girls had to follow strict rules to leave their homes, such as wearing special clothing. In many cases, they were not allowed to leave their homes at all, creating an atmosphere of fear among them.
Al-Hassan Ag Abdul Aziz was a key member of the police force that enforced these rules and ordered punishments such as public flogging. The court convicted him in June 2024 on eight serious counts, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The ICC also clarified in its ruling that the convicted individual lacks the resources to pay the compensation himself. Therefore, the court requested the Trust Fund for Victims to assist in providing this compensation to the victims.
The court stated that compensation is not merely financial assistance, but an important step towards rehabilitating victims and restoring their lives to normal. Long-term assistance will be provided to affected communities through mass rehabilitation programs.
According to the ICC, providing compensation after conviction is a vital part of the justice process. It provides victims with a sense of justice and protects their rights. Currently, similar compensation orders have been issued in five other ICC cases, which are being implemented through the Trust Fund for Victims.
Experts believe this decision is an important step in the international justice system, demonstrating that concrete efforts are being made to provide justice to victims of crimes committed during war and conflict.
Overall, this ICC decision has brought relief to thousands of victims in Mali and is being considered an important initiative towards the protection of human rights and justice internationally.
