Bangladesh: Islamist Leader’s Death Penalty Dropped

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/world/asia/bangladesh-islamist-leaders-death-penalty-dropped.html

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Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Wednesday commuted the death sentence of an Islamist political leader who was convicted last year of war crimes during the nation’s 1971 war for independence. The leader, Delwar Hossain Sayedee, is a top official in Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist party in Bangladesh. Mr. Sayedee must remain in prison for life, Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain said, without explaining his reason for reducing the sentence. Jamaat-e-Islami called for a general strike for Thursday to denounce the verdict, saying Mr. Sayedee was innocent. His death sentence for killings, rape and atrocities in the 1971 war against Pakistan set off clashes that killed at least 70 people.