Odbudowa zniszczonych chronionych budynków nie przywróci im nigdy dawnego blasku ani oryginalnego wyglądu
Restoration of protected buildings can never return them to their original brilliance and originality

Trial Chamber VIII of the International Criminal Court in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, Reparations Order of the International Criminal Court of 17 August 2017, ICC-01/12-01/15

Summary/Abstract: The destruction of cultural heritage continues to outrage the international community, and although the tools of international law are ineffective in stopping such attacks, rulings such as the one discussed in this commentary might provide a chance to prevent further destruction and discourage prospective perpetrators. Reparations orders are supposed to demonstrate that even though the perpetrators have not been punished at the national level, this does not mean that they will not by punished for crimes on the international level. Beyond any doubt, cultural heritage defines communities regardless of location and helps communities identify with their past and traditions that have been passed down in them for generations. In the case discussed below, for the community of Timbuktu the demolition of cultural heritage did not mean only the damage to protected buildings, it also damaged their identity.

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