A/HRC/37/78 into the shooting, the Independent Expert would like an independent investigation to be opened to ensure the transparency and impartiality of the investigation process. 41. The Independent Expert received information relating to an operation led by international forces on the night of 20 July, during which members of the forces reportedly arrested more than five people in and around the city of Timbuktu. According to some sources, members of the forces reportedly took them to an unknown location. However, the Independent Expert was informed that four of them had reportedly been released the same day, while the fifth person had reportedly been placed on board a helicopter belonging to the Barkhane forces and taken to an unknown location. 2. Human rights violations committed by armed groups 42. The interpretation given to sharia law by preachers and extremist groups in almost all the cercles of Mopti Region calls into question practices considered quite normal by some Muslims, especially practices specific to Mali. For example, recently a marabout was murdered in the commune of Mondoro for having encouraged his Qur’anic students to beg for rice. In other cases, women have been whipped for having sung or for having celebrated their marriage in the traditional manner (with music and in mixed company). On 1 September 2017, during Eid al-Adha, also known as Tabaski, violent extremists raided several villages to enforce their prohibition on celebrating the holiday. This situation prompted several members of the community to rise up against these individuals, creating a cycle of violence and retaliation. 43. The Independent Expert was also informed of problems related to the exercise of freedom of conscience and religion that affect both the Christian and Muslim communities. In the first week of October 2017, armed extremists in the central Region of Mopti, threatened Christian communities in two villages and burned down three churches. On 19 September, an unknown number of unidentified armed individuals (suspected to belong to a radical group) raided another village in the region, looting the local church before burning it down. They also reportedly threatened members of the Christian community, warning them to cease practising their faith, and reportedly ordered all residents not to smoke or consume alcohol. On 6 October 2017, six violent extremists ransacked and burned down a Catholic and a Protestant church in a village located in Douna Pen, also in Mopti Region. The Independent Expert notes that the Christian community had already received threats from armed radical individuals in the region. The church in Didja (or Bija), located in another commune of Mopti Region, has remained closed since 25 April 2017 after these individuals raided the village and threatened the church leaders. These acts constitute serious violations of freedom of conscience and religion. 44. The two armed groups that are signatories to the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali continue to recruit and use children. 45. The Independent Expert is concerned by reports that members of armed groups violated the human rights of civilians while purporting to maintain security. On 18 April, members of the Mouvement pour le salut de l’Azawad reportedly executed a 30-year-old shopkeeper who was a member of the Songhai community in Ménaka Region. Members of the Mouvement pour le salut de l’Azawad-Platforme allegedly shot the victim in front of his house during a joint patrol for having broken the curfew imposed by armed groups in the city. These individuals have been conducting joint patrols for the purpose of securing the city since 17 April. On 18 October, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it would significantly scale back its activities in Kidal as of 20 October following the decision to evacuate non-essential staff in the light of growing insecurity. It explained that the scale-back would not affect its support for the surgical centres attached to the commune’s referral hospital (the only facilities of this kind within a 300 km radius). 46. On two occasions, between October and November 2016 and in May 2017, humanitarian organizations partnered with United Nations agencies were prevented from moving freely on the Anefis-Kidal road on account of the conflict between the Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad and the Groupe d’autodéfense des Touaregs Imghad et leurs alliés. GE.18-01553 9