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Bangladesh: Abdul Kader Mullah gets life sentence for war crimes Bangladesh: Abdul Kader Mullah gets life sentence for war crimes
(about 3 hours later)
A war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh has found a leader of the main Islamist party guilty of crimes against humanity during the war for independence from Pakistan in 1971.A war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh has found a leader of the main Islamist party guilty of crimes against humanity during the war for independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Abdul Kader Mullah, of Jamaat-e-Islami, was sentenced to life in prison. He denied all the charges. Abdul Kader Mullah of Jamaat-e-Islami, who denied all the charges, was sentenced to life in prison.
Official estimates say more than three million people were killed in the war.Official estimates say more than three million people were killed in the war.
But the trial has sparked protests from supporters who accuse the government of pursuing a political vendetta.But the trial has sparked protests from supporters who accuse the government of pursuing a political vendetta.
Jamaat has called a national strike for Tuesday, and clashes between police and protesters broke out in Dhaka and several other cities.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, while demonstrators set vehicles alight. In the southern city of Chittagong, one man was reported to have died in the violence.
Thousands marched through the capital, Dhaka, on Monday, demanding the release of their leaders.Thousands marched through the capital, Dhaka, on Monday, demanding the release of their leaders.
There were reports of clashes between police and protesters, while the AFP news agency quoted police as saying they had fired rubber bullets.
Jamaat has called a national strike for Tuesday.
'Witch hunt''Witch hunt'
Abdul Kader Mullah, 64, the assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami, was found guilty of five out of six charges, including murder.Abdul Kader Mullah, 64, the assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami, was found guilty of five out of six charges, including murder.
The crowded, heavily guarded court room heard him shout he was innocent, after the verdict was delivered. The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan who was in the packed, heavily guarded court room, says Mr Mullah's face appeared grim as he listened attentively to the verdict for nearly an hour and a half.
Twelve people in total are standing trial, including a number of leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and a former minister from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). As soon as the judges finished reading the judgement out, he shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great") and then cursed the judges and the government.
All of the people currently indicted by the tribunal deny the charges and opposition leaders accuse the government of carrying out a political vendetta. Abdul Kader Mullah is the second defendant to be found guilty by the special tribunal.
Abdur Razzaq, the lead lawyer for the Jamaat leaders facing trial, described the tribunal as "a witch hunt". Last month, a former leader of the party, Abul Kalam Azad, was found guilty in absentia of eight charges of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death.
Ten others are on trial, including eight top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and two members of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one a former minister.
All deny the charges against them and opposition leaders accuse the government of carrying out a political vendetta.
Abdur Razzaq, the lead lawyer for the Jamaat leaders facing trial, has described the tribunal as "a witch hunt".
He points to the fact that defendants have no way of challenging the tribunal's decisions because there is no right of appeal.
Human rights groups have also said the tribunal falls short of international standards.Human rights groups have also said the tribunal falls short of international standards.
Last month, in the first conviction of the tribunal, a former leader of the party, Abul Kalam Azad, was found guilty in absentia of eight charges of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. The special court was set up in 2010 by the current Bangladeshi government to deal with those accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces who attempted to stop East Pakistan (as Bangladesh was then) from becoming an independent country.
The special court was set up in 2010 by the Bangladeshi government to deal with those accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces who attempted to stop East Pakistan (as Bangladesh was then) from becoming an independent country.
Bangladesh government figures estimate more than three million people were killed during the independence war, although some researchers put the figure at between 300,000 and 500,000.Bangladesh government figures estimate more than three million people were killed during the independence war, although some researchers put the figure at between 300,000 and 500,000.