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Bangladesh hangs Chowdhury and Mujahid over 1971 war crimes | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Two Bangladesh opposition leaders have been executed for war crimes committed during the 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan. | Two Bangladesh opposition leaders have been executed for war crimes committed during the 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan. |
Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were hanged in Dhaka's central jail. | Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid were hanged in Dhaka's central jail. |
They were convicted of genocide and rape - charges they denied. | They were convicted of genocide and rape - charges they denied. |
Chowdhury has been an influential politician - he was elected MP six times. Mujahid was a top leader of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party. | Chowdhury has been an influential politician - he was elected MP six times. Mujahid was a top leader of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party. |
They were hanged after President Abdul Hamid rejected appeals for clemency by the two men, the home minister said. | They were hanged after President Abdul Hamid rejected appeals for clemency by the two men, the home minister said. |
The Supreme Court upheld their sentences earlier this month. | The Supreme Court upheld their sentences earlier this month. |
Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury | |
Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid | |
Bangladesh war crimes trial: Key accused | |
Chowdhury was the most senior leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to be sentenced for crimes against humanity. | Chowdhury was the most senior leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to be sentenced for crimes against humanity. |
Two years ago, a special war crimes tribunal found him guilty of nine out of 23 charges including genocide, arson and persecuting people on religious and political grounds. | Two years ago, a special war crimes tribunal found him guilty of nine out of 23 charges including genocide, arson and persecuting people on religious and political grounds. |
The prosecution said that his father's residence in Chittagong was turned into a torture cell during the war. | |
Mujahid was the secretary-general of Jamaat-e-Islami. He was sentenced to death in July 2013. | Mujahid was the secretary-general of Jamaat-e-Islami. He was sentenced to death in July 2013. |
He was accused of responsibility for the killings of a number of pro-independence Bangladeshi leaders and intellectuals. | He was accused of responsibility for the killings of a number of pro-independence Bangladeshi leaders and intellectuals. |
The tribunal found him guilty of five charges, including abduction and murder. | The tribunal found him guilty of five charges, including abduction and murder. |
Bangladesh's government says the war crimes trials are necessary to bring murderers to justice. | Bangladesh's government says the war crimes trials are necessary to bring murderers to justice. |
But the opposition says they have been used to persecute them and human rights groups have said the tribunal does not meet international standards. | But the opposition says they have been used to persecute them and human rights groups have said the tribunal does not meet international standards. |
Bangladesh independence war, 1971 | Bangladesh independence war, 1971 |
Bangladesh war crimes trial: Key accused | Bangladesh war crimes trial: Key accused |