Bangladesh Islamist Ghulam Azam found guilty of war crimes

[hue]

Source: BBC News

A war crimes court has found Islamist Ghulam Azam guilty of five charges relating to Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.

Ghulam Azam was sentenced to 90 years in jail for his involvement in mass killings and rape during the war.

Supporters of Bangladesh's main Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, which he led from 1969 until 2000, clashed with police ahead of the verdict.

It is the fifth sentence passed against current and former party leaders.

The court found Mr Azam, 90, guilty of five charges including conspiracy, incitement, planning, abetting and failing to prevent murder.

He faced more than 60 counts of crimes against humanity for his role in setting up militia groups which carried out atrocities during the war.

Mr Azam has denied the charges, which his supporters say were politically motivated.

The prosecution had been seeking the death penalty.

But the three-judge panel said that while Mr Azam deserved capital punishment, he received a prison term because of his advanced age.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23310518

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This was a looong time in coming!! So many atrocities occurred!!

[dusty trails]

1. No capital punishment 'cause he's 90

Guess they felt he isn't long for this world anyway, but the punishment should fit the crimes.
Bangladesh is in such a sad condition, even today.

[rpannier]

2. He's also in poor health

The court added that his poor health is a factor in not executing
Read several stories where there is a real concern that executing him would lead to massive riots.
The guy has a fairly large and devoted following
Let him die of old age