Bamako: Al-Qaeda-linked militant group in northern Mali Thursday vowed to enforce what the group considers Islamic law saying that their members are ready to embrace death until the implementation.
In an interview with Voice of America (VOA), the spokesman for extremist group Ansar Dine, Sanda Ould Boumama, defended actions such as amputating the hands of thieves, destroying historic sites and silencing all non-Islamic music.
The spokesman said that shortly after taking control militants began teaching people about “all things that are forbidden by their religion.”
He said that the population was initially “very reluctant” to accept the militants’ point of view. But he said eventually they did and – in his words – “now we don’t have any problem.”
United Nations officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, have accused groups in northern Mali of extremist and criminal activities.
Boumama defended recent punishments by extremists, including public floggings and the amputation of a suspected thief’s hand.
“We are Muslims. We are going to implement Islamic law, and Islamic law punishes thieves this way.”
Boumama also justified the destruction of the ancient tombs of Muslim saints in Timbuktu, saying it is forbidden to pray there.
This week militants ordered radio stations in the region to stop broadcasting all non-Islamic music, saying it is “forbidden” by Islam.
It is to be mentioned here that secular Mali Tauregs along with Islamists Ansar Dine last year took control of the North Mali, but later the Islamists forced Tauregs to leave the land ultimately taking full control over the North.
Several countries including France and ECOWS bloc had also demanded UN Security Council to take serious actions against the militants before it could become a safe haven for militants.
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