The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on September 17 sentenced a top Islamic leader to death for war crimes committed during the 1971 independence war, rejecting an earlier life sentence imposed by a war crimes tribunal.
The tribunal on February 5 found Abdul Quader Mollah, assistant secretary-general of the Jamaat-e Islami party, guilty of murder, rape, and torture.
The life sentence imposed at the time sparked protests by people demanding that he be executed.
In response to such protests, Bangladesh's parliament amended a law to allow the state to appeal any verdict reached in the war crimes trials deemed inadequate.
The Jamaat-e Islami opposed Bangladeshi independence from Pakistan in the 1971 war, but it has rejected accusations that some of its leaders committed atrocities during the conflict.
The tribunal on February 5 found Abdul Quader Mollah, assistant secretary-general of the Jamaat-e Islami party, guilty of murder, rape, and torture.
The life sentence imposed at the time sparked protests by people demanding that he be executed.
In response to such protests, Bangladesh's parliament amended a law to allow the state to appeal any verdict reached in the war crimes trials deemed inadequate.
The Jamaat-e Islami opposed Bangladeshi independence from Pakistan in the 1971 war, but it has rejected accusations that some of its leaders committed atrocities during the conflict.