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Bangladesh Jamaat leader loses final appeal against execution for war crimes
DHAKA: Bangladesh's top court on Tuesday rejected a final appeal by a leader of religious Jamaat-i-Islami party against a death sentence for atrocities committed during the 1971 war of independence, lawyers said, meaning he could be hanged at any time.
The verdict comes as the Muslim-majority nation suffers a series of militant attacks, the most serious on July 1, when gunmen stormed a cafe in the capital, Dhaka, and killed 20 hostages, most of them foreigners.
In March, the Supreme Court had upheld the death penalty for Mir Quasem Ali, 63, a media tycoon and key financier of Jamaat, for murder, confinement, torture and incitement to religious hatred during the war to leave Pakistan.
"Now it is only a matter of time to execute the verdict, unless he seeks clemency from the president," Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told reporters after a panel of five judges headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha rejected the appeal.
Lawyers for Ali could not be reached immediately for comment on whether the party leader would seek clemency.
The war crimes tribunal set up by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2010 has sparked violence and drawn criticism from opposition politicians, who say it is victimising her political opponents. The government denies the accusations.
Human rights groups say the tribunal's procedures fall short of international standards, but the government rejects that assertion, and the trials are supported by many Bangladeshis.
Authorities have deployed additional security forces in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere, as similar previous judgments triggered violence that killed around 200, mainly Jamaat activists and police.
Since December 2013, four Jamaat leaders, including former top leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, and a leader of the main opposition party, led by former premier Khaleda Zia, have been executed for war crimes.
Official figures show about 3 million people were killed and thousands of women raped during the nine-month war, in which some factions, including the Jamaat-i-Islami, opposed the break from what was then called West Pakistan.
But the party denies its leaders committed any atrocities.
Comments (43) Closed
Bangladesh is avoiding all the mistakes done by other Muslim majority nations. Great way to move ahead
Bangladesh Supreme Court Zindabad !
Good riddance
He is 63 years old now , so he was almost 17 years of old in 1971 ??????
Travesty of justice.
India is expecting $ 200 billion just in the solar power sector.This will mean no more oil imports after 15 yrs.GDP is4th highest in the world today behind US,China and Japan.By 2040 it will be the largest economy and biggest Superpower on Earth
He was only a 17 year boy in 1971;still very much a kid.
Only 17 years by age but did heinous crime which rarest of rare to get the maximum punishment. When Supreme Court has given its verdict we must respect that. Personally though I strongly against violence, murder, capital punishment judicial or extra-judicial, however do respect the judgement given by the Supreme Court. I am sure before pronouncing such an order they must have given deep thoughts and used their wisdom.
@Taiful Yes according to Hasina Wajid courts, the 17 year old kid committed genocide back in 1971.
A grave injustice
@Taiful Goes to show the sanctity of the Bangla Deshi justice system trying a man for a crime he committed or did not commit when he was 17 years old.
Very difficult to do justice to events b4 71 for any country esp a 3rd world country-the evidence will be of weakest quality. If atrocities took place over a year he wud've been 16-17 during the events i.e. a juvenile. The system looks flawed.
This is what type of justice which awake after 45 years????
Where are human rights activists.
It was a gone conclusion that his appeal would be upheld. How many old men are they going to hang?
But, he was a patriotic Pakistani then fighting outlaws!
he was the secretary of Islami Chattra Shangha (islamic student union) at the age of 17 and the organizer of Badr Group.
Surprised to see a Hindu as the Chief Justice. Bangladesh seems to be more secular than Pakistan. Following the footsteps of India. Good.
Righteous Bangladesh
Sad to see a Bangladeshi being hung after 45 years on heresay evidence. This is murder not Justice.
Too much killing will rebound badly. Bangladesh army should stop this. Where can people turn for justice.
He was born in December 1952, and was 19 year old at the time of genocide.
At that time Bangladesh was Pakistan and he defended his country against people who were politically wanted to part ways with Pakistan. He was only 17 years old at that time. Bangladesh and Pakistan are still brother nations. One should forget the mistakes of the past to build better future and establish good relations with each other. Such kind of hanging will undermine the relations between two countries and two communities within Bangladesh as well. In Bangladesh there are still many citizens who are pro-Pakistan. I think all Pakistanis all want Bangladesh to prosper as it was also our country in the past, we got freedom together. We must not believe in division but unity of the musalmans of the sub-continent, giving due share and protecting the non-muslim countrymen.
Indian influenced government of Bangladesh is taking the country towards doom. Such a shame.
@anony What parameters are you using for growth?
Where are human rights organizations now?
@anony I want to as you where is Pakistan going?
Bangladesh residents listen and remember one thing that "never start some tradition or law that can entangle you also in future". Hasina and the government must remember and do not follow India's dictation as we live in changing world. Same rules may apply on them once her government will be toppled. And Bangladesh is not a stable country. Sincerely
A judicial genocide of a political party by hatred of a lady.
Indeed will be a shaheed because he was fighting foreign aggression. BD is on the path of death and destruction.
it is total vindictiveness of bangla deshi pm who is taking revenge on hollow basis what a shane
This is barbaric.
Let the severe punishment fit the heinous crime. Justice delayed is justice denied.
@Momtaz Ahmad Ghulam Rasool Some kids are overgrown for their age.
Hope this is the last.
@chanpeer See, we should not look at muslims or non-muslims in any country. Then there is no question of "due" protection of non-muslims.
@SAEED KHAN it was done on legal trails
@anony it is justice
@Rajan Rajan Saheb Look at the history. The historical cycle always catches up with nations. India under Hindu rule was united under Asoka and Chandra Gupta Moriya The maximum life of the Hindu empires has been 81 years. It was united longest under the Muslims and later the British History is always written on the wall and needs to be paid attention to!
@Lafanga ....yes of course...
@Rajan HOW ?
@Ahsan Gul lol, Pakistan is a stable country.
It is Bangladesh internal matter, nobody can raise the finger on judicatory of BD & their sovereignty.