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Former Bangladeshi Islamist leader jailed for war crimes dies in prison Former Bangladeshi Islamist leader jailed for war crimes dies in prison
(about 1 hour later)
A former Bangladeshi Islamist party leader, whose imprisonment on war crimes charges triggered violent protests last year, has died of a heart attack in a prison cell of a government hospital.A former Bangladeshi Islamist party leader, whose imprisonment on war crimes charges triggered violent protests last year, has died of a heart attack in a prison cell of a government hospital.
Ghulam Azam, 91, died late on Thursday after life support was removed at the Bangabandhu Sehikh Mujib Medical University in the capital, Dhaka, said hospital spokesman Abdul Majid Bhuiyan.Ghulam Azam, 91, died late on Thursday after life support was removed at the Bangabandhu Sehikh Mujib Medical University in the capital, Dhaka, said hospital spokesman Abdul Majid Bhuiyan.
A special tribunal last year sentenced Azam, a former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, to 90 years in prison on 61 charges of war crimes during the Bangladesh 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.A special tribunal last year sentenced Azam, a former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party, to 90 years in prison on 61 charges of war crimes during the Bangladesh 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
Bangladesh accuses the Pakistani army and local collaborators for the deaths of 3 million people and the rape of 200,000 women during the nine-month war. Azam led JI in what was then East Pakistan. His party openly campaigned against independence and Azam toured the Middle East to mobilise support for Pakistan. The party has denied committing atrocities.Bangladesh accuses the Pakistani army and local collaborators for the deaths of 3 million people and the rape of 200,000 women during the nine-month war. Azam led JI in what was then East Pakistan. His party openly campaigned against independence and Azam toured the Middle East to mobilise support for Pakistan. The party has denied committing atrocities.
Azam led the party until 2000, and was still considered to be its spiritual leader. JI claims his trial was politically motivated, which authorities deny. Azam led the party until 2000, and was still considered to be its spiritual leader. JI claims his trial was politically motivated, which authorities deny. His supporters clashed with police after the verdict was announced.
Azam’s supporters clashed with police after the verdict was announced.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist party, led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has criticised the tribunal, saying it is intended to weaken the opposition. JI is the main political ally of Zia’s party.The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist party, led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has criticised the tribunal, saying it is intended to weaken the opposition. JI is the main political ally of Zia’s party.
The Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who set up the tribunal in 2010, says she had pledged before the 2008 election, which her party won in a landslide, to prosecute those responsible for war crimes.The Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, who set up the tribunal in 2010, says she had pledged before the 2008 election, which her party won in a landslide, to prosecute those responsible for war crimes.