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Bangladesh Islamist leader sentenced to death

February 18, 2015

A Bangladeshi court has sentenced leading Islamist Abdus Subhan to death after convicting him of war crimes. Opposition leaders say the ruling is less about justice and more about eliminating political opponents.

https://p.dw.com/p/1EdZ0
Bangladesch Dhaka Gericht Kriegsverbrechen Delwar Hossain Sayeedi Protest gegen Urteil
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Monirul Alam

A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal ordered the execution of a high-ranking Islamist leader Wednesday after finding him guilty of war crimes committed during the nation's war for independence in 1971.

Abdus Subhan, a vice president of Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan's largest Islamist party, was convicted of murder, genocide and torture. The announcement of the sentence ignited violence outside the courthouse in capital of Dhaka, as several Molotov cocktails were thrown by alleged anti-government activists.

Justice Obaidul Hassan, who led the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) three-judge panel, said Subhan "will be hanged by the neck until his death."

"He was found guilty of six out of nine charges. As a leader of Jamaat, he collaborated with [the] Pakistan army and he carried out [crimes] in the name of Islam," prosecutor Sultan Mahmud said.

Subhan was accused of actively taking part of the murder of hundreds of innocent villagers and minority Hindus during the 1971 conflict in which Bangladesh won its independence from Pakistan. Subhan's lawyers plan to appeal the ruling.

"The verdict was based on some factual errors, we will certainly file appeal against it," defense lawyer Shishir Monir told reporters.

Subhan is the 17th person to be convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal, a domestic court established by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to prosecute those who collaborated with Pakistani soldiers. The Bangladesh government has said nearly three million people were killed during the 1971 war for independence. Independent researchers say the number killed is far less.

Political unrest

Previous death sentences handed down by the court against Jamaat leaders sparked deadly clashes with police in 2013. Hundreds were killed. The latest sentence is likely to further inflame tensions in Bangladesh, where a group of opposition parties is currently seeking to oust the government.

Bangladesch Khaleda Zia vor dem Gericht in Dhaka
BNP leader Khaleda Zia says Hasina's government is trying to marginalize the oppositionImage: M. uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images

Both the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and Jamaat say the trials are designed to eliminate opposition leaders rather than seek justice.

In January, BNP leader Khaleda Zia, was barred from leaving her office ahead of nationwide anti-government rallies marking the anniversary of disputed elections. The controversial vote on January 5, 2014, was boycotted by the opposition who claimed it was rigged, delivering another five-year term to Hasina.

bw/sms (AFP, dpa)