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Bangladesh Sentences 2 to Death for War Crimes Bangladesh Sentences 2 to Death for War Crimes
(about 2 hours later)
NEW DELHI — A war-crimes tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced two expatriates on Sunday — one now living in the United States, and the other in Britain — to death by hanging for the murder of 18 people, including prominent intellectuals, during the country’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. NEW DELHI — A war-crimes tribunal in Bangladesh on Sunday sentenced two expatriates — one now living in the United States, and the other in Britain — to death by hanging for the murder of 18 people, including prominent intellectuals, during the country’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
A judge in the capital, Dhaka, said the two men, who were tried in absentia, “encouraged, gave moral support to, and participated in the killing” of 18 people, described as university professors, journalists and physicians, who supported the independence movement, The Times of India reported.A judge in the capital, Dhaka, said the two men, who were tried in absentia, “encouraged, gave moral support to, and participated in the killing” of 18 people, described as university professors, journalists and physicians, who supported the independence movement, The Times of India reported.
Both defendants fled Bangladesh shortly after it gained independence from Pakistan. One of the men, Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, made his home in London, where he became a prominent Muslim leader, serving as a trustee for the charity Muslim Aid and as director of Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the National Health Service. Both defendants fled Bangladesh shortly after it gained independence from Pakistan. One of the men, Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, made his home in London, where he became a prominent Muslim leader, serving as a trustee for the charity Muslim Aid and as the director of Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the National Health Service.
He has said that he rejects “each and every charge leveled against me,” and refused to return to face trial because he did not expect a fair process.He has said that he rejects “each and every charge leveled against me,” and refused to return to face trial because he did not expect a fair process.
The second man, Ashrafuzzaman Khan, moved to Pakistan and then to the United States after the war, and lived in New York, where he was active in the Islamic Circle of North America.The second man, Ashrafuzzaman Khan, moved to Pakistan and then to the United States after the war, and lived in New York, where he was active in the Islamic Circle of North America.
The war crimes tribunal has shone a spotlight on unresolved tensions from the 1971 war, in which Bangladesh, a largely Muslim country with roughly 160 million people, won independence from Pakistan at the cost of an estimated 3 million lives. Human Rights Watch has criticized the tribunal, saying it is marred by “a strong judicial bias toward the prosecution.” The war-crimes tribunal has shone a spotlight on unresolved tensions from the 1971 war, in which Bangladesh, a largely Muslim country with roughly 160 million people, won independence from Pakistan at the cost of an estimated three million lives. Human Rights Watch has criticized the tribunal, saying it is marred by “a strong judicial bias toward the prosecution.”
According to Bangladesh’s government, thousands of women were also raped when Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan. The tribunal has handed down eight convictions and six death sentences, often sparking riots by Islamist or secular protesters. More than 100 people have been killed in the violence. According to Bangladesh’s government, thousands of women were raped when Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan. The tribunal has handed down eight convictions and six death sentences, rulings that often set off riots by Islamist or secular protesters. More than 100 people have been killed in the violence.
Prosecutors said that Mr. Mueen Uddin and Mr. Khan were both associated with the pro-Pakistani Al-Badr militia, and that the group rounded up and massacred Bengali intellectuals in December 1971. Mr. Mueen Uddin has said he opposed independence during the war, but had no role in committing atrocities against his fellow countrymen.Prosecutors said that Mr. Mueen Uddin and Mr. Khan were both associated with the pro-Pakistani Al-Badr militia, and that the group rounded up and massacred Bengali intellectuals in December 1971. Mr. Mueen Uddin has said he opposed independence during the war, but had no role in committing atrocities against his fellow countrymen.