Al Mahdi's Timbuktu mausoleums trial resumes Monday

*The ICC’s trial of Al Faqi Al Mahdi accused of destroying cultural monuments in Mali resumes on Monday(August 22, 2016). *

The alleged destruction of historical and religious monuments in Timbuktu took place between June and July 2012.

“This is the first time that this court in efforts to defend the cultural heritage of a community, recognises its real importance and contributes to the fight against what touches the community which is often the prelude to worse abuses against the population. “ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda said.

Al Faqi Al Mahdi has announced his intention to make an admission of guilt and the ICC has one week to deliberate and proclaim judgement(should he plead guilty) when the case resumes.

The case will be adjourned if Al Mahdi does not plead guilty.

However, those involved in the reconstruction of the mausoleums are working to ensure that the “new mausoleums” resemble what was destroyed.

“After the destruction we were lucky to find the remains of the wall that are there. We did surveys. This is the first source of information. We have information collected from the population as well the cultural office.“a Malian architect, Mamadou Kone said.

Al Mahdi surrendered to the ICC on the 28th of September 2015. He was later charged of destroying religious monuments . His wish to plead guilty was openly expressed to his lawyers and ICC judges in March.