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| Bangladesh |
| Mir Quasem's death penalty upheld |
| 2016-03-09 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] The apex court yesterday upheld the death sentence of Chittagong al-Badr kingpin Mir Quasem Ali ...Jamaat-e-Islamic Central Committee member and Saudi money man in Bangla. Currently waiting to be hanged.... , who had earned titles like Bangali Khan and Sarder for leading the militia group to collaborate with the Pak occupation forces against the pro-liberation people in 1971. The order paves the way for Quasem's walk to gallows for the crimes against humanity he had committed during the Liberation War including abduction, torture and murder of freedom fighters at torture cells in the port city. A five-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, delivered the short verdict before a packed courtroom at 9:42am yesterday. The convict will get 15 days after the top court publishes its full verdict to file a review petition. If the petition is rejected or the convict does not file a petition, he will get a chance to seek the president's mercy. In case of its rejection or if he does not seek clemency, the government will carry out the sentence of the International Crimes Tribunal given in 2014. The judgement was applauded by all quarters including those who had expressed doubts over Quasem's capital punishment in the backdrop of a rumour of the chief justice's favouring the defence in the case. The defence said that they would file a review petition while Quasem's party Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... , like the previous instances, called a daylong countrywide shutdown for today terming the verdict a "judicial killing." The apex court upheld the Jamaat leader's sentences on seven charges, including one which had brought him death in the war crimes case. He was acquitted from three other proven charges including the one that earned him death. Quasem's death was upheld for the abduction, torture and murder of 15-year-old freedom fighter Jasim of Sandwip in confinement at al-Badr torture cell in Daleem Hotel in Andarkilla area of Chittagong. According to the charge, any time after the Eid-ul-Fitr day of 1971, Quasem made a plan and at his instigating, the members of al-Badr force kidnapped Jasim from an unknown place of the Chittagong City and took him to Daleem Hotel. |
| Posted by:Fred |