Latest news with #JamaatEIslami
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Bangladesh's top court acquits Islamist leader on death row
Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam was sentenced to death in 2014 for rape, murder and genocide. (AFP pic) DHAKA : Bangladesh's top court today overturned a conviction against a key leader of the country's main Islamist party, who had been on death row since being sentenced under the regime ousted last year. ATM Azharul Islam, from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, and who has been in custody since 2012, was acquitted of crimes against humanity by the Supreme Court, which ordered his release. Islam, who was born in 1952, was among six senior political leaders convicted during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year-long autocratic rule as prime minister ended in August 2024 when a student-led revolt forced her to flee. Political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, are readying for hugely anticipated elections which the interim government has vowed will take place by June 2026 at the latest. Islam's lawyer Shishir Monir said he was 'fortunate' because the five other senior political leaders who had been convicted – four from Jamaat-e-Islami, and another from the key Bangladesh National Party (BNP) – had already been hanged. 'He got justice because he is alive', Monir told reporters. 'The appellate division failed to review the evidence in other cases for crimes against humanity'. Islam had been sentenced to death in 2014 for rape, murder and genocide during Bangladesh's 1971 independence war from Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islami supported Islamabad during the war, a role that still sparks anger among many Bangladeshis today. 'Seek your pardon' They were rivals of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League – who would become Bangladesh's founding figure. Hasina banned Jamaat-e-Islami during her tenure and cracked down on its leaders. Islam appealed in 2015, but the court upheld the verdict in 2019, and he filed a review petition in 2020. Hasina, 77, fled to India last year as crowds stormed her palace, and she remains there in self-imposed exile – with her Awami League party itself now banned. She has defied Dhaka's extradition request to face charges of crimes against humanity related to the crackdown that killed at least 1,400 protesters in her failed bid to claw onto power. With Hasina gone, Islam appealed his conviction again, filing an appeal on Feb 27. Today, the full bench, led by chief justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, acquitted him. Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami celebrated. Leader Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that the party was also remembering those who had been hanged. 'They were the victims of judicial killings,' he said. 'If they were alive today, they could have led the country in the right direction. People will always remember their contributions to the nation'. As political parties jostle for power, rivals of Jamaat-e-Islami have also questioned its historical role in supporting Pakistan during the 1971 war. 'We, as individuals or as a party, are not beyond making mistakes,' Rahman said, without specifying further what he referred to, and declining to take questions. 'We seek your pardon, if we have done anything wrong.'
Khaleej Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
Bangladesh top court acquits Islamist leader on death row: Lawyer
Bangladesh's top court on Tuesday overturned a conviction against a key leader of the country's main Islamist party, who had been on death row since being sentenced under the regime ousted last year. A.T.M. Azharul Islam, from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, and who has been in custody since 2012, was acquitted of crimes against humanity by the Supreme Court, which ordered his release. Islam was among six senior political leaders convicted during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year-long autocratic rule as prime minister ended in August 2024 when a student-led revolt forced her to flee. "He got justice because he is alive", Monir told reporters. "The appellate division failed to review the evidence in other cases for crimes against humanity". Islam's lawyer Shishir Monir said he was "fortunate" because the five other senior political leaders who had been convicted -- four from Jamaat-e-Islami, and another from the key Bangladesh National Party (BNP) -- had already been hanged. Islam had been sentenced to death in 2014 for rape, murder and genocide during Bangladesh's 1971 independence war from Pakistan. Political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, are readying for hugely anticipated elections which the interim government has vowed will take place by June 2026 at the latest.
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Bangladesh Supreme Court frees Islamist leader sentenced to death for 1971 war crimes under Sheikh Hasina's ousted regime
DHAKA, May 27 — Bangladesh's top court on Tuesday overturned a conviction against a key leader of the country's main Islamist party, who had been on death row since being sentenced under the regime ousted last year. A.T.M. Azharul Islam, from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, and who has been in custody since 2012, was acquitted of crimes against humanity by the Supreme Court, which ordered his release. Islam, who was born in 1952, was among six senior political leaders convicted during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year-long autocratic rule as prime minister ended in August 2024 when a student-led revolt forced her to flee. Political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, are readying for hugely anticipated elections which the interim government has vowed will take place by June 2026 at the latest. Islam's lawyer Shishir Monir said he was 'fortunate' because the five other senior political leaders who had been convicted – four from Jamaat-e-Islami, and another from the key Bangladesh National Party (BNP) – had already been hanged. 'He got justice because he is alive', Monir told reporters. 'The appellate division failed to review the evidence in other cases for crimes against humanity'. Islam had been sentenced to death in 2014 for rape, murder and genocide during Bangladesh's 1971 independence war from Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islami supported Islamabad during the war, a role that still sparks anger among many Bangladeshis today. 'Seek your pardon' They were rivals of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League – who would become Bangladesh's founding figure. Hasina banned Jamaat-e-Islami during her tenure and cracked down on its leaders. Islam appealed in 2015, but the court upheld the verdict in 2019, and he filed a review petition in 2020. Hasina, 77, fled to India last year as crowds stormed her palace, and she remains there in self-imposed exile – with her Awami League party itself now banned. She has defied Dhaka's extradition request to face charges of crimes against humanity related to the crackdown that killed at least 1,400 protesters in her failed bid to claw onto power. With Hasina gone, Islam appealed his conviction again, filing an appeal on February 27. On Tuesday, the full bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, acquitted him. Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami celebrated. Leader Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that the party was also remembering those who had been hanged. 'They were the victims of judicial killings,' he said. 'If they were alive today, they could have led the country in the right direction. People will always remember their contributions to the nation'. As political parties jostle for power, rivals of Jamaat-e-Islami have also questioned its historical role in supporting Pakistan during the 1971 war. 'We, as individuals or as a party, are not beyond making mistakes', Rahman said, without specifying further what he referred to, and declining to take questions. 'We seek your pardon, if we have done anything wrong'. — AFP
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bangladesh top court acquits Islamist leader on death row: lawyer
Bangladesh's top court on Tuesday overturned a conviction against a key leader of the country's main Islamist party, who had been on death row since being sentenced under the regime ousted last year. A.T.M. Azharul Islam, from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, and who has been in custody since 2012, was acquitted of crimes against humanity by the Supreme Court, which ordered his release. Islam, who was born in 1952, was among six senior political leaders convicted during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year-long autocratic rule as prime minister ended in August 2024 when a student-led revolt forced her to flee. Political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, are readying for hugely anticipated elections which the interim government has vowed will take place by June 2026 at the latest. Islam's lawyer Shishir Monir said he was "fortunate" because the five other senior political leaders who had been convicted -- four from Jamaat-e-Islami, and another from the key Bangladesh National Party (BNP) -- had already been hanged. "He got justice because he is alive", Monir told reporters. "The appellate division failed to review the evidence in other cases for crimes against humanity". Islam had been sentenced to death in 2014 for rape, murder and genocide during Bangladesh's 1971 independence war from Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islami supported Islamabad during the war, a role that still sparks anger among many Bangladeshis today. - 'Seek your pardon' - They were rivals of Hasina's father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League -- who would become Bangladesh's founding figure. Hasina banned Jamaat-e-Islami during her tenure and cracked down on its leaders. Islam appealed in 2015, but the court upheld the verdict in 2019, and he filed a review petition in 2020. Hasina, 77, fled to India last year as crowds stormed her palace, and she remains there in self-imposed exile -- with her Awami League party itself now banned. She has defied Dhaka's extradition request to face charges of crimes against humanity related to the crackdown that killed at least 1,400 protesters in her failed bid to claw onto power. With Hasina gone, Islam appealed his conviction again, filing an appeal on February 27. On Tuesday, the full bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, acquitted him. Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami celebrated. Leader Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that the party was also remembering those who had been hanged. "They were the victims of judicial killings," he said. "If they were alive today, they could have led the country in the right direction. People will always remember their contributions to the nation". As political parties jostle for power, rivals of Jamaat-e-Islami have also questioned its historical role in supporting Pakistan during the 1971 war. "We, as individuals or as a party, are not beyond making mistakes", Rahman said, without specifying further what he referred to, and declining to take questions. "We seek your pardon, if we have done anything wrong". sa/pjm/mtp
Malay Mail
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Bangladesh's Yunus in crisis talks with rival parties as Dhaka protests escalate over election timing
DHAKA, May 24 — Bangladesh's interim leader, who took over after a mass uprising last year, will meet powerful parties pressuring his government later today, days after he reportedly threatened to quit. Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads the caretaker government as its chief adviser until elections are held, has called for rival political parties jostling for power to give him their full support. His press secretary Shafiqul Alam confirmed Yunus would meet leaders of the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as well as leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, the Muslim-majority nation's largest Islamist party. 'He is meeting BNP and Jamaat leaders this evening,' Alam told AFP. No agenda for the talks has been released. But the BNP, seen as the front-runners in elections, are pushing heavily for polls to be held by December. They would be the first elections since a student-led revolt forced then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to flee in August 2024. Microfinance pioneer Yunus, who has led the country after returning from exile at the behest of protesters, says he has a duty to implement democratic reforms before elections. Yunus has said polls could be held as early as December, but that holding them later — with a deadline of June — would give more time for those changes. 'Reconsider our support' The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since Hasina fled, but this week has seen an escalation with rival parties protesting on the streets of the capital Dhaka with a string of competing demands. 'Our senior members will be there for the talks,' said BNP media official Shairul Kabir Khan. Jamaat-e-Islami's media spokesperson Ataur Rahman Sarkar also confirmed that they were invited. On Thursday, a political ally and sources in his office said Yunus had threatened to resign if Bangladesh's parties and factions did not back him. That came a day after BNP supporters held large-scale protests against the interim government for the first time demanding an election date. 'If he is unable to announce a specific election date by December, we will reconsider our support for his administration,' senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said in an interview on a private TV channel broadcast on Friday. According to local media and military sources, army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman this week also said that elections should be held by December — aligning with BNP demands. Bangladesh has a long history of military coups, and the army retains a powerful role in the country. 'Trying to assume power' Jamaat-e-Islami loyalists have also protested against the government, demanding the abolition of a women's commission seeking equality. Nahid Islam, leader of the National Citizen Party — made up of many of the students who spearheaded the uprising against Hasina — said his party meanwhile wanted later elections to give time for change. The students wanted 'fundamental reforms' to Bangladesh's system of governance, Islam, an ally of Yunus, told reporters on Friday, according to the Prothom Alo newspaper. But he said rival parties considered the overthrow of Hasina to be 'regime change and are trying to assume power' under the existing constitution. 'There are efforts to create an unstable situation in the country,' Islam added. 'We must remain united and not fall into the trap.' Hasina, 77, remains in self-imposed exile in India. She has defied an arrest warrant to face trial for crimes against humanity related to last year's police crackdown on protesters during which at least 1,400 were killed. — AFP
