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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh sentences third Jamaat-e-Islami leader to death | Bangladesh sentences third Jamaat-e-Islami leader to death |
| (12 days later) | |
| A Bangladeshi tribunal has sentenced to death a top Islamist politician after finding him guilty of atrocities stemming from the 1971 independence war. | A Bangladeshi tribunal has sentenced to death a top Islamist politician after finding him guilty of atrocities stemming from the 1971 independence war. |
| The verdict against Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was the fourth in Bangladesh's war crimes tribunals since January, and many feared it could trigger another wave of deadly street violence between his supporters and security forces. | The verdict against Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was the fourth in Bangladesh's war crimes tribunals since January, and many feared it could trigger another wave of deadly street violence between his supporters and security forces. |
| The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has called the trials a long-overdue effort to obtain justice for victims of war crimes committed during Bangladesh's split from Pakistan. Critics accuse Hasina of using the tribunals to neuter opposition parties ahead of elections scheduled for next year. | The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has called the trials a long-overdue effort to obtain justice for victims of war crimes committed during Bangladesh's split from Pakistan. Critics accuse Hasina of using the tribunals to neuter opposition parties ahead of elections scheduled for next year. |
| Kamaruzzaman, 61, was convicted on five counts of mass killings, rape, torture and kidnapping. | Kamaruzzaman, 61, was convicted on five counts of mass killings, rape, torture and kidnapping. |
| Obaidul Hassan, the head of the three-judge tribunal, said the charges had been proved beyond a doubt and sentenced him to death. | Obaidul Hassan, the head of the three-judge tribunal, said the charges had been proved beyond a doubt and sentenced him to death. |
| Kamaruzzaman's lawyer Ehsan Siddiky said justice was denied to his client and promised to appeal. | Kamaruzzaman's lawyer Ehsan Siddiky said justice was denied to his client and promised to appeal. |
| During the trial, he denied participating in wartime atrocities and said the prosecution was politically motivated. | During the trial, he denied participating in wartime atrocities and said the prosecution was politically motivated. |
| Kamaruzzaman is the assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, a hardline party that was opposed Bangladesh's independence. It is now a key partner in the opposition coalition. | Kamaruzzaman is the assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, a hardline party that was opposed Bangladesh's independence. It is now a key partner in the opposition coalition. |
| The politician was found guilty of leading his followers to kill at least 183 people in his home district of Sherpur in northern Bangladesh. | The politician was found guilty of leading his followers to kill at least 183 people in his home district of Sherpur in northern Bangladesh. |
| The prosecution said he formed the group al-Badr to collaborate with the Pakistani army and led them to kill unarmed people and rape women. | The prosecution said he formed the group al-Badr to collaborate with the Pakistani army and led them to kill unarmed people and rape women. |
| Bangladesh says the war left 3 million people dead, 200,000 women raped and forced millions to flee to neighbouring India. | Bangladesh says the war left 3 million people dead, 200,000 women raped and forced millions to flee to neighbouring India. |
| Kamaruzzaman has one month to appeal the verdict. | Kamaruzzaman has one month to appeal the verdict. |
| Bangladesh has put its security forces on high alert. In February, more than 70 people were killed as riots swept through Bangladesh after the tribunal sentenced to death another Jamaat leader, Delwar Hossain Sayedee, for crimes against humanity. In the same month another leading figure in the party, Abdul Kader Mollah, was given life imprisonment in February. The first verdict of the tribunal was against Abul Kalam Azad, an Islamic cleric and a former Jamaat leader, who was sentenced to death. | Bangladesh has put its security forces on high alert. In February, more than 70 people were killed as riots swept through Bangladesh after the tribunal sentenced to death another Jamaat leader, Delwar Hossain Sayedee, for crimes against humanity. In the same month another leading figure in the party, Abdul Kader Mollah, was given life imprisonment in February. The first verdict of the tribunal was against Abul Kalam Azad, an Islamic cleric and a former Jamaat leader, who was sentenced to death. |
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