The saints of Timbuktu attacked

Between June and July 2012, the armed group Ansar Dine destroyed mausoleums of the Sufi saints of Timbuktu, the '333 saints' believed to protect the city.

2012 CE · 16.77, -3.01 · status: official

The account

Residents visited the tombs for blessings and protection. In 2016 the International Criminal Court convicted Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi of directing the attacks, its first trial for destroying cultural heritage, and sentenced him to nine years. Local masons rebuilt the tombs with UNESCO by 2015.

Connections in the atlas

• The door that was never to be opened

Sources

1. Wikipedia: Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi