A/HRC/22/33 22. Various sources have also reported the case of the stoning of a young unmarried couple by MUJAO and Ansar Dine in Aguelhok, on 29 July 2012. The couple, accused of having children out of wedlock, were tied together, buried in a pit up to their necks and stoned to death in front of about 300 people. 23. Mines were allegedly planted either by the Malian army before the crisis or armed groups after January 2012. In Gao, Ansongo and Niafunké, MUJAO apparently planted anti-personnel mines around the towns to protect itself better against possible attacks. Between March and August, 28 serious incidents were allegedly caused by mines and explosive remnants of war in the north, killing 43 people, including 24 children. B. Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment 24. At the start of the crisis, families linked to the Ganda Koy and Ganda Izo militias, as well as the immediate family of members of the army, were systematically targeted, beaten and subjected to various forms of violence and intimidation by MNLA. 25. Ten cases of amputations, in the name of a particular interpretation of sharia, have been recorded since the north was taken over by extremist armed groups: six in Gao, one in Ansongo and three in Timbuktu. The first case of amputation was carried out in Ansongo on 8 August 2012 on Al Hader Ag Al Mahmoud, aged 30, whose right hand was cut off by members of MUJAO after a summary trial for stealing cattle. The victim told the Mission: “On 6 July 2012, I was returning from a weekly market in Ansongo, some people reported me to members of MUJAO who arrested me. After 14 days of imprisonment, I was referred to a committee of 10 people who convicted me after a summary trial. The head of MUJAO read out the sentence for the amputation of my right hand. They rounded up people on Independence Square to attend the event. I was securely tied to a chair, with my right hand on the armrest. Then a member of MUJAO cut off my right hand with a big kitchen knife. I was given treatment later by a first-aid worker.” 26. The Mission was informed by various sources that the people living in the north of the country continue to be subjected to degrading treatment by armed groups which, because of their extreme interpretation of sharia, harass, flog and beat women who are not wearing the veil or are not properly veiled, as well as men involved in the sale or consumption of cigarettes and alcohol or any other practices or conduct that they consider as not in conformity with sharia. C. Arbitrary arrests and detention 27. Since the withdrawal of Malian forces from the north of the country, the maintenance of order is ensured by armed groups through “Islamic police” that allegedly arrest, detain and ill-treat citizens, especially in the prisons of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, in flagrant violation of Malian law. D. Recruitment of child soldiers 28. Although the exact number of children associated with armed groups could not be determined, the Mission collected credible information indicating that MNLA, AQIM, Ansar Dine and MUJAO recruit and train children in camps. Following the defeat of MNLA, most child soldiers reportedly joined other armed groups. 10 GE.13-10067