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Bangladesh Sentences 2 Expatriates to Death for War Crimes Bangladesh Sentences 2 Expatriates to Death for War Crimes
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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 described as 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 described as prominent intellectuals, during the country’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
A verdict released in the capital, Dhaka, said the two men, who were tried in absentia, were guilty of “aiding, abetting, instructing, ordering, encouraging and providing moral support to” the killers of the 18 people, described as university professors, journalists and physicians, who supported the independence movement. The verdict said that the two men “had de facto reasonable material and authority to control” those responsible.A verdict released in the capital, Dhaka, said the two men, who were tried in absentia, were guilty of “aiding, abetting, instructing, ordering, encouraging and providing moral support to” the killers of the 18 people, described as university professors, journalists and physicians, who supported the independence movement. The verdict said that the two men “had de facto reasonable material and authority to control” those responsible.
Both defendants fled Bangladesh shortly after it gained independence from Pakistan. One of the men, Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, settled 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.Both defendants fled Bangladesh shortly after it gained independence from Pakistan. One of the men, Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, settled 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 has 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 has refused to return to face trial because he did not expect a fair process.
The second man, Ashrafuzzaman Khan, moved to Pakistan, 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 so-called intellectual killings took place in 1971, from Dec. 5 to 10, 1971, when it had become all but certain that Bangladesh would win independence from Pakistan. The three-judge tribunal called the killings “elitocide.” The second man, Ashrafuzzaman Khan, moved to Pakistan, 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 so-called intellectual killings took place in 1971, from Dec. 10 to 15, when it had become all but certain that Bangladesh would win independence from Pakistan. The three-judge tribunal called the killings “elitocide.”
The verdict said the killings were “a premeditated and secret plan to exterminate the best and most notable intellectuals belonging to different professions.” It added, “The intention was to paralyze the nation.”The verdict said the killings were “a premeditated and secret plan to exterminate the best and most notable intellectuals belonging to different professions.” It added, “The intention was to paralyze the nation.”
Colleagues and relatives of the victims wept on Sunday when the verdict was read.Colleagues and relatives of the victims wept on Sunday when the verdict was read.
“I think all of Bangladesh was waiting for this day,” said Anirban, an architecture professor, who was 9 months old when his father, Mostafa, was abducted. Anirban, like his father, uses only one name.“I think all of Bangladesh was waiting for this day,” said Anirban, an architecture professor, who was 9 months old when his father, Mostafa, was abducted. Anirban, like his father, uses only one name.
The judges said in their ruling that the deaths were carried out by a “killing squad” associated with the pro-Pakistani Al-Badr militia, and that Mr. Mueen Uddin and Mr. Khan were important leaders in the group.The judges said in their ruling that the deaths were carried out by a “killing squad” associated with the pro-Pakistani Al-Badr militia, and that Mr. Mueen Uddin and Mr. Khan were important leaders in the group.
It also said the killings were “carried out under the control and coordination” of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist opposition party. Jamaat faces a ban from participating in the coming general elections, after the county’s High Court ruled that it was not legally registered. It plans to appeal the decision. It also said the killings were “carried out under the control and coordination” of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist opposition party. Jamaat has been barred from participating in the coming general elections, after the county’s High Court ruled that it was not legally registered. It plans to appeal the decision.
The war crimes tribunal has shined 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.”The war crimes tribunal has shined 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.”
Prosecutors said that Mr. Mueen Uddin and Mr. Khan were both associated with the Al-Badr militia.Prosecutors said that Mr. Mueen Uddin and Mr. Khan were both associated with the Al-Badr militia.

Julfikar Ali Maik contributed reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Julfikar Ali Manik contributed reporting from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: November 4, 2013

An earlier version of this article misstated the time span in 1971 during which the killings of the 18 prominent intellectuals took place. It was Dec. 10 to 15, 1971, not Dec. 5 to 10. A reporting credit with the article misspelled the surname of the freelancer who contributed from Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is Julfikar Ali Manik, not Maik.