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Bangladesh war crimes suspect AKM Yusuf seeks bail | Bangladesh war crimes suspect AKM Yusuf seeks bail |
(1 day later) | |
A leader of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party in Bangladesh is seeking bail after being arrested on Sunday for alleged war crimes, officials say. | A leader of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party in Bangladesh is seeking bail after being arrested on Sunday for alleged war crimes, officials say. |
AKM Yusuf was detained in Dhaka and charged with offences during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. | AKM Yusuf was detained in Dhaka and charged with offences during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. |
His arrest follows the sentencing to death last week of another Jamaat leader, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, for wartime atrocities. | His arrest follows the sentencing to death last week of another Jamaat leader, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, for wartime atrocities. |
Defence lawyers say that Mr Yusuf is innocent and is being held illegally. | Defence lawyers say that Mr Yusuf is innocent and is being held illegally. |
They say that he was arrested by police before formal arrest orders were issued. | They say that he was arrested by police before formal arrest orders were issued. |
The establishment by the government of a tribunal to prosecute war crimes suspects in Bangladesh is a divisive issue, with large demonstrations both for and against its rulings. | The establishment by the government of a tribunal to prosecute war crimes suspects in Bangladesh is a divisive issue, with large demonstrations both for and against its rulings. |
More than 100 people have been killed in protests and counter-protests since January, when the tribunal sentenced senior Jamaat leader Abul Kalam Azad to death in absentia. | More than 100 people have been killed in protests and counter-protests since January, when the tribunal sentenced senior Jamaat leader Abul Kalam Azad to death in absentia. |
Jamaat opposed Bangladeshi independence from Pakistan in 1971, but denies accusations that some of its leaders committed murder, rape and torture during the conflict. | Jamaat opposed Bangladeshi independence from Pakistan in 1971, but denies accusations that some of its leaders committed murder, rape and torture during the conflict. |
Mr Yusuf is alleged to be the founder of the infamous Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force set up to help the Pakistani army by rooting out local resistance. | Mr Yusuf is alleged to be the founder of the infamous Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force set up to help the Pakistani army by rooting out local resistance. |
The Razakars were notorious for their operations targeting Hindus as well as civilians suspected of being sympathetic towards Bengali nationalists. | The Razakars were notorious for their operations targeting Hindus as well as civilians suspected of being sympathetic towards Bengali nationalists. |
He is facing 15 war crimes charges, which include genocide, killing, looting, arson and forcing members of minority faiths to convert to Islam. | He is facing 15 war crimes charges, which include genocide, killing, looting, arson and forcing members of minority faiths to convert to Islam. |
His defence team argued that Mr Yusuf, 87, should be granted bail immediately because of his old age. | His defence team argued that Mr Yusuf, 87, should be granted bail immediately because of his old age. |
Prosecutors however opposed the bail application, arguing that Mr Yusuf had remained politically active despite his advancing years and should remain in jail to prevent him influencing trial proceedings. | Prosecutors however opposed the bail application, arguing that Mr Yusuf had remained politically active despite his advancing years and should remain in jail to prevent him influencing trial proceedings. |
A judge at the court said that a decision on the bail application would be made on Tuesday. | A judge at the court said that a decision on the bail application would be made on Tuesday. |
Four men have already been found guilty by the tribunal. Senior Jamaat leader Delwar Hossein Sayeedi was condemned to death in February and the party's assistant secretary-general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman received the same sentence on 9 May. | Four men have already been found guilty by the tribunal. Senior Jamaat leader Delwar Hossein Sayeedi was condemned to death in February and the party's assistant secretary-general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman received the same sentence on 9 May. |
In February another party figure Abdul Kader Mullah was given a life sentence, while the previous month Abdul Kalam Azad, a former leader of the party's student wing, received a death sentence in absentia. He is thought to be in Pakistan. | In February another party figure Abdul Kader Mullah was given a life sentence, while the previous month Abdul Kalam Azad, a former leader of the party's student wing, received a death sentence in absentia. He is thought to be in Pakistan. |
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