Islamists in Mali Issue Harsh Justice, Amputations

5 months ago

United Nations Security Council authorized a military crackdown in the region

Harsh application of Shariah law in Islamist-controlled region of northern Mali is shocking the world. As part of a commitment to “practice the justice of God,” law enforcement officials sentence thieves to public amputations. Islamists in Gao cut off the hands and feet of at least four people accused of stealing, just days after the United Nations Security Council authorized a military campaign to retake the region last week. The amputations have occurred at least 14 times since the Islamist takeover last spring, according to Human Rights Watch and independent observers in the region. Those are just the known cases, human rights advocates say. Dozens of other residents are publicly whipped with camel-hair or tree branches for smoking and playing music on the radio. The most severe punishment has been a stoning to death, carried out in July against a couple accused of having children out of wedlock. (New York Times)