Editorial Board

A War Crime Against Culture

There should be no impunity for the destruction of Timbuktu's sacred sites.

March 4, 2016 at 7:00 AM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

More than just buildings.
Photographer: Sebastien Rieussec/AFP/Getty Images

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The destruction of a mausoleum cannot compare to the rape and murder of innocents. But it is a war crime nonetheless -- and the importance of prosecuting it should not be underestimated, for the present day or for posterity.

When the terrorist group Ansar Dine invaded Timbuktu, Mali, in 2012, it not only attacked the local population, but also destroyed a historic mosque and several graves. Now its leader, Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, is before the International Criminal Court, charged with the destruction of Unesco World Heritage sites. After a hearing in the Hague this week, the court will decide whether Al Mahdi will stand trial.