In April Islamic groups Ansar Dine, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) wrested control of northern Mali from the MNLA and swiftly imposed repressive Sharia law across the region, insisting women be veiled, stoning civilians to death, amputating alleged criminals, publicly flogging residents and destroying religious shrines, according to human rights groups.