Inside the Islamic Emirate of Timbuktu   TIMBUKTU, Mali — The
Islamic court of Timbuktu referred to it as Case Number 25. The
date written on the court document is Oct. 10, 2012. "In front
of us stands a man, Muhamad bin Moussa, who is accused of
practicing magic," reads the document. "During investigation he
admitted to have used talismans, magical tables, and magical
seals, and to writing [Quranic] verses and tearing them, which
makes him a magician."  The court, led by judge Muhammad bin al-
Hussain, asked the culprit to publically repent. This, of
course, he did immediately. According to the court paper,
Muhamad uttered the shahada -- the Muslim declaration of belief
in the oneness of God. He then promised the Islamic court he
would study the Quran. "This is why we did not spill his blood,"
reads the document. Instead of the death sentence, Muhamad the
Magician was sentenced to "three days in jail so other people
can take it as an example."  From April 2012 until January 2013,
al Qaeda and its local ally,