Inside Gao: jihadis' bloody retribution

residents Gao has undergone nine months of amputation and flogging the reign of Islamic rebels - many of them are aimed at ethnic groups

jihadists amputations performed in the sandbox where people used to watch Gao basketball. Gao men who ruled for nine months, until the French and Malian troops expelled last week, has replaced "Independence Square" in the green flag, red and yellow national simple black and white: Square Sharia.

A thief loses his right hand. Those who are accused of stealing lose both right hand and left foot. On 21 December last year, people have gathered, as they had been repeatedly and told him to look.

"Nobody was allowed to talk," said Issa Alzouma. "Then they cut off his hand with a knife."

Alzouma was accused of stealing a motorcycle, which he denies. At age 39, he made a living digging gravel for construction companies. This was sufficient to support his wife and three children. Gao now wanders in rags, the stump of his right arm wrapped in a bandage dirty, skinny black plastic bag hanging from his left wrist. The interior is maintained at some antibiotics and replacement of tires administered by a doctor of the Red Cross who treated Gao hospital a week after the amputation.

"The doctor had to cut and remove the flesh, and becoming infected," he said. "Under the bandage can see my bones. Hurts and I feel as if my bones are out. "

Alzouma has no idea how he and his family to survive. "My wife is screaming and crying," he said. Algalas Yatara Your friend, who was also accused of stealing a motorcycle, carries a stack of papers in Arabic in his hand remaining. He thinks it is judgment, but not sure, because neither man can not read Arabic.

At least 12 men had their hands and feet cut off after MUJAO (Movement for Unity and Jihad), and their allies in AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb), took control of Gao last April. The exact number is not known because some have been amputated at the military base where they are not allowed jihadist. The mayor's office, a few feet above the ground has become a sharia court punishment. Outside, the sand is black, where performers

Hesbah

, or justice, land and ravaged by cigarette found. Inside, the floor is full of documents, including a ring binder with details of battered women for not wearing the veil. Parents were made to put a fingerprint to prove that received the punishment and supervise defendants in the future.

Suspects were confined to a small room where they were tied up and beaten before being brought before judges Islamic known as marabou, which sat every Mondays and Thursdays.

Altini Ali and Mohammed Aklini should be executed for homosexuality last Friday before. French airstrikes have saved their lives, because jihadists have executed the sentence were killed or fled. The two men, who deny their homosexuality, were arrested on December 12, tied up, beaten, interrogated below. "They asked me where are the brothels," said Altini. "I said I did not know. Then asked me to show them where people were pornographic films. I said again that I do not know. "

• According Altini his interrogators were six Pakistanis, who communicated by a local translator. Altini Aklini and was charged with three marabouts, which is believed to be a Tunisian.

"The jihadists had their own marabout," said Altini. "I asked if the rumors that I slept with men were true. Told me that before the time of the Prophet allowed these things, but he is now condemned by Islam. "A marabout suggested that men should have a second chance, but another said that he had to face the death penalty. A final decision seems to have been taken by Abdul Hakim, a Moroccan who was a leader in MUJAO Gao and Aliou Muammar Tour?, a local man who was appointed police commissioner Islamic .

"Abdul Hakim and Aliou Muhammar we visited the station after the sentencing," said Altini. "Aliou said:" I will tie the hands and feet to myself. "Abdul Hakim replied: "Well, I'll cut their throats to myself." Aliou want my parents to attend the execution. "

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