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Motiur Rahman Nizami: Bangladeshi Islamist leader executed Motiur Rahman Nizami: Bangladeshi Islamist leader hanged
(about 4 hours later)
Bangladesh has executed a top Islamist leader for crimes committed during the war of independence from Pakistan in 1971, the law minister says. An Islamist leader has been hanged in Bangladesh for crimes during the war of independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Motiur Rahman Nizami, 72, was hanged early in the morning (local time) on Wednesday, Anisul Haq said. Motiur Rahman Nizami, 73, was executed early on Wednesday (local time), Law Minister Anisul Haq confirmed.
Nizami led Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami. Previous executions of party leaders have sparked violent protests. He had been convicted of genocide, rape and torture.
Last week Nizami lost his final appeal against the sentence. Nizami had led Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami. Hundreds of people gathered near his prison in the capital Dhaka to celebrate the hanging.
He was convicted of genocide, rape and torture, charges the defence said were not proven beyond reasonable doubt. Nizami was the fifth and highest-ranked opposition leader to be executed since December 2013 for war crimes.
Security was tightened across the country ahead of the execution. Supporters of Nizami protested outside Dhaka's Central prison, where the sentence was carried out. Bangladesh says the prosecutions are needed to heal the wounds of conflict but human rights groups say the trials fall short of global standards and lack international oversight.
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'Deprived of justice'
Last week, Nizami lost his final appeal against the sentence. He was hanged after refusing to seek mercy from President Abdul Hamid.
"Nizami has been deprived of justice," Jamaat's acting leader, Maqbul Ahmad, said. "He's a victim of political vengeance."
The party also called for a nationwide strike on Thursday.
Security was tightened across the country ahead of the execution.
Nizami is the fourth leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party to have been executed since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up a war crimes tribunal to look into abuses during the independence war.Nizami is the fourth leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party to have been executed since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up a war crimes tribunal to look into abuses during the independence war.
A former government minister, Nizami was one of the most important figures to be found guilty.A former government minister, Nizami was one of the most important figures to be found guilty.
He was convicted of setting up a militia which helped the Pakistani army identify and kill pro-independence activists.He was convicted of setting up a militia which helped the Pakistani army identify and kill pro-independence activists.
Supporters and some rights groups say the executions are politically motivated.
Nizami will be buried in his village home in the northern part of Bangladesh.Nizami will be buried in his village home in the northern part of Bangladesh.
His family met him briefly before his execution but left without speaking to the media, Bangladesh's Daily Star reported. His family met him briefly before his execution but left without speaking to the media, Bangladesh's Daily Star reports.
The hanging comes amid a spate of killings of liberal activists, secularists, foreigners and members of religious minorities that the government has blamed on Islamists.The hanging comes amid a spate of killings of liberal activists, secularists, foreigners and members of religious minorities that the government has blamed on Islamists.
Bangladesh independence war, 1971Bangladesh independence war, 1971