Historic Condemnation of the Destruction of Cultural Heritage at the International Criminal Court: The Case of Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi

Abstract:

“Justice did not tremble,” reported French newspaper Le Monde on September 29, 2016, describing the conclusion of this historic case at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prosecutor v. Al Mahdi was replete with “firsts” for the Court: first prosecution for destruction of cultural heritage; first prosecution of an Islamic extremist; first case regarding Mali; first guilty plea.