Northern Mali - Militants Destroy Timbuktu Islamic Shrines

DAKAR In north Mali, associates belonging to the Islamic militant group Ansar Dine usually are methodically destroying mausoleums as well as revered Muslim tombs in Timbuktu. UNESCO features listed the actual historic city as a World Heritage website intended for it's ancient mosques in addition to shrines.

Residents associated with Timbuktu explained to VOA that armed gentlemen out of Ansar Dine began leveling your tombs early Saturday morning. The sites, such as grave with 15th-century Muslim scholar Sidi Mahmoud, are considered almost holy through the local population. Hardline Islamist sets for instance Ansar Dine respect this kind of shrines because sacrilegious, even so the sites tend to be an important portion of worship for Muslims surrounding the world.

Anthadi Oumar Ascofar was developed in Timbuktu 64 years ago, as well as he / she spoke for you to VOA from there. Armed gentlemen encircled shrines and cemeteries within the city, while other people ruined tombs using axes, shovels in addition to machetes, your dog said. It is definitely sore for many people in order to watch the following destruction, although seeing that were unarmed all of us cannot react. Assoumane Ma ga may be a native of Timbuktu currently within the particular capital, Bamako. He said this individual obtained calls throughout Saturday morning coming from persons throughout Timbuktu who desired to plan to stop the destruction. However, Ma ga said, he appeared to be told of which Ansar Dine's fighters uncomfortable actual beatings proper get together in a group involving above three or four people. The shrines will be an essential portion of Timbuktu's Muslim culture, Ma ga says: Every Friday all of the individuals through Timbuktu usually visit your cemeteries while in the earlier a . m . that will pray. Today it azines such as you might be picking a part of this heart of each and every single individual in Timbuktu."

Mali verts interim government condemned that harmful trend on screen with Timbuktu. In a statement Saturday afternoon, authorities in Bamako said the desecration and devastation involving shrines amounts to be able to battle crimes, and also vowed to look following your perpetrators, probably while in the International Criminal Court. The communique stated the particular violence in Timbuktu had nothing at all to do having Islam, and added, The Malian persons will probably continue to keep struggle most of these reactionary practices this fly in the confront of morality along with cultural values.

The attack for the early mausoleums will come simply nights following the United Nations ethnic firm put Timbuktu upon their listing of sites that are usually throughout danger. UNESCO s World Heritage Committee urged that African Union as well as worldwide neighborhood to help you guard Timbuktu in addition to its 16 historical mausoleums. During yesteryear 1 week Ansar Dine along with Islamic groupings around northern Mali fought along with separatist Tuareg rebels on the National Movement for any Liberation associated with Azawad, and also MNLA. The Islamists succeeded in pressing the actual MNLA outside the primary upper towns of Gao and also Timbuktu. Ansar Dine swept towards north Mali a few months ago, struggling with down Tuaregs campaigning intended for an unbiased state. Ansar Dine possesses said their objective is not really a strong distinguish state in northern Mali , nevertheless the software of rigorous Islamic rules in the traditional western African nation.