ICC: Lawyer for alleged jihadist Ahmed Al-Hassan asks judges to close the case

Al-Hassan is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Timbuktu between April 2012 and January 2013. (illustration image) Peter Langer / Getty Images

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Two weeks before the opening of the trial of Ahmed Al-Hassan before the International Criminal Court, his lawyer requests the closure of the case and the release of the accused. Ahmed Al-Hassan is being prosecuted for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the occupation of Timbuktu by Ansar Dine and Aqmi, in 2012. This former police commissioner of morals is said to be suffering from post-traumatic stress, after being tortured during his arrest.

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With our correspondent in The Hague , Stéphanie Maupas

Ahmed Al-Hassan was arrested in April 2017 by Barkhane force, then detained by the Malian DST. According to his lawyer, he was then tortured several times. Maître Taylor therefore asked the judges to close the case and release him.

At the time, before his transfer to The Hague , investigators from the prosecutor's office had repeatedly questioned the former police commissioner of Timbuktu manners. Ahmed Al-Hassan then complained of the lack of care and food. He allegedly claimed to be regularly beaten and subjected to waterboarding.

According to his lawyer, the prosecutor's office did nothing. Ms. Taylor added that prosecution witnesses were also allegedly ill-treated. For her, no testimony recorded under torture can be validated by a court.

The trial could nevertheless start before the judges' decision. The prosecution suggests that they deal with the issue at the same time and exclude testimony that is deemed inadmissible.

During a hearing on Tuesday, the Australian lawyer also explained that with the pandemic, she has not been able to meet her client in prison since March. Prosecutor Gilles Dutertre also asked the judges to be flexible. The first witnesses are expected to testify at the end of August. But with the Covid-19, it will be complicated to bring them from Mali.

► Read also: [Info RFI] Mali delivers an alleged jihadist to the ICC

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  • International justice
  • Mali