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| Bangladesh Islamist party leader sentenced to death for war crimes | Bangladesh Islamist party leader sentenced to death for war crimes |
| (2 months later) | |
| A senior leader of Bangladesh's biggest Islamist party has been sentenced to death by a tribunal for his role in the kidnapping and killing of people during the country's war of independence. | A senior leader of Bangladesh's biggest Islamist party has been sentenced to death by a tribunal for his role in the kidnapping and killing of people during the country's war of independence. |
| Ali Ahsan Mojaheed, secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) , was found guilty by the court in the capital, Dhaka, of kidnapping and killing a journalist, a music director and others who supported the cause of secession from Pakistan in 1971. | Ali Ahsan Mojaheed, secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) , was found guilty by the court in the capital, Dhaka, of kidnapping and killing a journalist, a music director and others who supported the cause of secession from Pakistan in 1971. |
| The judgment is the latest in a series this year that have prompted unrest in the south Asian state. An election is scheduled to take place within the next six months and there are fears of increasingly intense clashes as political factions seek to establish supremacy on the streets in the runup to the poll. | The judgment is the latest in a series this year that have prompted unrest in the south Asian state. An election is scheduled to take place within the next six months and there are fears of increasingly intense clashes as political factions seek to establish supremacy on the streets in the runup to the poll. |
| The tribunal, set up in 2010 by the Awami League-led government of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has angered religious conservatives and the opposition, led by the Bangladesh National party, has called the trials politically motivated. | The tribunal, set up in 2010 by the Awami League-led government of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has angered religious conservatives and the opposition, led by the Bangladesh National party, has called the trials politically motivated. |
| Tofail Ahmed, a senior Awami League official, said the verdict had "fulfilled the aspiration of the people". | Tofail Ahmed, a senior Awami League official, said the verdict had "fulfilled the aspiration of the people". |
| "They want war criminals to be punished like this," said Tofail. "People's expectations are very high. Everybody wants that the highest punishment will be given to the war criminals." | "They want war criminals to be punished like this," said Tofail. "People's expectations are very high. Everybody wants that the highest punishment will be given to the war criminals." |
| Senior government officials in Dhaka told the Guardian last month that the controversial tribunal was an essential effort to "deal with historical ghosts". | Senior government officials in Dhaka told the Guardian last month that the controversial tribunal was an essential effort to "deal with historical ghosts". |
| The extent of the atrocities in 1971 – and responsibility for them – has always been disputed. The war claimed around three million lives, according to estimates. Some Bangladeshi Islamists collaborated with Pakistani military forces in a systematic campaign of rape, arson and murder. | The extent of the atrocities in 1971 – and responsibility for them – has always been disputed. The war claimed around three million lives, according to estimates. Some Bangladeshi Islamists collaborated with Pakistani military forces in a systematic campaign of rape, arson and murder. |
| Leaders of JI openly campaigned against the creation of Bangladesh. Independence was eventually won with the help of India on 16 December 1971 when the Pakistani army surrendered in Dhaka. | Leaders of JI openly campaigned against the creation of Bangladesh. Independence was eventually won with the help of India on 16 December 1971 when the Pakistani army surrendered in Dhaka. |
| Wednesday's verdict came in a packed courtroom in the presence of the defendant. | Wednesday's verdict came in a packed courtroom in the presence of the defendant. |
| Mojaheed faced seven charges including genocide, murder, conspiracy and complicity in atrocities during the war. On Monday, Ghulam Azam, 91, seen as JI's spiritual leader, was given a life sentence for similar crimes. | Mojaheed faced seven charges including genocide, murder, conspiracy and complicity in atrocities during the war. On Monday, Ghulam Azam, 91, seen as JI's spiritual leader, was given a life sentence for similar crimes. |
| JI, though electorally weak in terms of votes, can swing crucial constituencies. Party officials said they would appeal against the verdicts and enforced a day-long general strike across the country on Wednesday. No significant violence was reported. The party later extended the protest for another 24 hours. | JI, though electorally weak in terms of votes, can swing crucial constituencies. Party officials said they would appeal against the verdicts and enforced a day-long general strike across the country on Wednesday. No significant violence was reported. The party later extended the protest for another 24 hours. |
| "The prosecution utterly failed to bring credible evidence … This is a judgment which is against justice, against the principle of rule of law and we will appeal against it," said Abdur Razza, chief defence counsel for JI and its assistant secretary general. | "The prosecution utterly failed to bring credible evidence … This is a judgment which is against justice, against the principle of rule of law and we will appeal against it," said Abdur Razza, chief defence counsel for JI and its assistant secretary general. |
| Hasina's government says it pledged before the 2008 election to prosecute those responsible for war crimes. A political alliance led by the Awami League won that poll with a two-thirds majority. | Hasina's government says it pledged before the 2008 election to prosecute those responsible for war crimes. A political alliance led by the Awami League won that poll with a two-thirds majority. |
| The tribunal has been criticised by human rights groups for not meeting international standards. | The tribunal has been criticised by human rights groups for not meeting international standards. |
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