This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-29813571
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh Islamist leader Motiur Rahman Nizami sentenced to death | Bangladesh Islamist leader Motiur Rahman Nizami sentenced to death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The head of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party has been sentenced to death for war crimes committed during the independence war against Pakistan in 1971. | The head of Bangladesh's largest Islamist party has been sentenced to death for war crimes committed during the independence war against Pakistan in 1971. |
| Motiur Rahman Nizami, 71, faced 16 charges including genocide, murder, torture and rape. | Motiur Rahman Nizami, 71, faced 16 charges including genocide, murder, torture and rape. |
| A state prosecutor said the sentence reflected the "gravity of the crimes". | A state prosecutor said the sentence reflected the "gravity of the crimes". |
| The defence said that the charges were not proven beyond reasonable doubt and that it would appeal. | The defence said that the charges were not proven beyond reasonable doubt and that it would appeal. |
| There are different estimates for the number of people killed in the nine-month Bangladeshi war of secession. | There are different estimates for the number of people killed in the nine-month Bangladeshi war of secession. |
| Government figures suggest as many as three million people died, while some say that figure is too high and unverifiable. | Government figures suggest as many as three million people died, while some say that figure is too high and unverifiable. |
| A war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh with a three-judge panel announced the verdict to a packed courtroom in Dhaka. | A war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh with a three-judge panel announced the verdict to a packed courtroom in Dhaka. |
| Nizami, who was head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was accused of acting as supreme commander of a militia, al-Badr, an auxiliary force which helped the Pakistani army identify and kill pro-independence activists in Bangladesh. | Nizami, who was head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was accused of acting as supreme commander of a militia, al-Badr, an auxiliary force which helped the Pakistani army identify and kill pro-independence activists in Bangladesh. |
| The prosecution said the group carried out systematic torture and executions during the war, including of teachers, engineers and journalists. | The prosecution said the group carried out systematic torture and executions during the war, including of teachers, engineers and journalists. |
| Nizami served as a minister in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government from 2001-2006. He was also given a death sentence in January after being convicted in an arms smuggling case. | Nizami served as a minister in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led government from 2001-2006. He was also given a death sentence in January after being convicted in an arms smuggling case. |
| Nationwide strike | Nationwide strike |
| "Considering the gravity of the crimes, the tribunal punished him with the death sentence," state prosecutor Mohammad Ali told Reuters news agency. | "Considering the gravity of the crimes, the tribunal punished him with the death sentence," state prosecutor Mohammad Ali told Reuters news agency. |
| Prosecutor Tureen Afroz told the BBC: "The prosecution team is very happy with the verdict that we could prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt." | Prosecutor Tureen Afroz told the BBC: "The prosecution team is very happy with the verdict that we could prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt." |
| However, defence lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict. | However, defence lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict. |
| "The tribunal went beyond its jurisdiction," defence counsel Tajul Islam told the BBC. | "The tribunal went beyond its jurisdiction," defence counsel Tajul Islam told the BBC. |
| "The other charges just were not proven at all beyond any reasonable doubt and that is why we're very unhappy and we'll file an appeal." | "The other charges just were not proven at all beyond any reasonable doubt and that is why we're very unhappy and we'll file an appeal." |
| The Jamaat-e-Islami party called for a three-day nationwide strike to protest the decision. | The Jamaat-e-Islami party called for a three-day nationwide strike to protest the decision. |
| Analysis: Sabir Mustafa, BBC Bengali Service editor | Analysis: Sabir Mustafa, BBC Bengali Service editor |
| The trial of Motiur Rahman Nizami was one of the most eagerly awaited events in Bangladesh's recent history. | The trial of Motiur Rahman Nizami was one of the most eagerly awaited events in Bangladesh's recent history. |
| Among several other crimes, Nizami was found guilty of responsibility in the targeted killing of dozens of Bengali intellectuals in the last days of the war. | |
| The killing of the intellectuals has been one of the most emotive issues in Bangladesh for the past 43 years, and Nizami's conviction is likely to go a long way to bring a sense of justice and closure to families of the victims. | |
| His conviction deals a severe blow to Jamaat-e-Islami's standing in the country. | His conviction deals a severe blow to Jamaat-e-Islami's standing in the country. |
| Jamaat has long refused to apologise for its role during Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971, when the party collaborated closely with the Pakistan army fighting Bengali nationalists. | |
| With the party leader found guilty of genocide and murder, it increases pressure on Jamaat to come to terms with this especially dark chapter in its history. | |
| But Jamaat's decision to call three days of general strikes shows the party is still reluctant to acknowledge its alleged role in carrying out atrocities. | |
| Without making a break from its 1971 legacy, Jamaat is likely to remain the most controversial political party in Bangladesh. | |
| Controversial tribunal | Controversial tribunal |
| Higher security measures were in place across Dhaka ahead of the sentencing. | Higher security measures were in place across Dhaka ahead of the sentencing. |
| After the sentence was announced, street protests erupted in several towns, and Jamaat supporters clashed with police. | After the sentence was announced, street protests erupted in several towns, and Jamaat supporters clashed with police. |
| Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters. | Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters. |
| Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the war crimes tribunal in 2010 to look into abuses during the independence war. | Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the war crimes tribunal in 2010 to look into abuses during the independence war. |
| Correspondents say Nizami is one of the most important figures to be found guilty by this controversial court. | Correspondents say Nizami is one of the most important figures to be found guilty by this controversial court. |
| Critics have said the government is using the tribunal to target political opponents. Human Rights Watch has previously said the court's procedures are not up to international standards. | Critics have said the government is using the tribunal to target political opponents. Human Rights Watch has previously said the court's procedures are not up to international standards. |
| The Awami League, which leads the current government, says it's necessary to help the country come to terms with its past. | The Awami League, which leads the current government, says it's necessary to help the country come to terms with its past. |
| Bangladesh independence war, 1971 | Bangladesh independence war, 1971 |