The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict today (Tuesday, May 27) on the appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, who was sentenced to death for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. He filed the appeal seeking acquittal.
Earlier this month, the appeal hearings were held over two days—on May 6 and 8. After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense, the court scheduled the verdict for today. Defense lawyer Shishir Manir expressed optimism that Azharul Islam would be acquitted based on the arguments they presented.
On December 30, 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal found Azharul Islam guilty of six charges of crimes against humanity, including mass killings, murder, abduction, rape, torture, looting, and arson in the Rangpur region. He was sentenced to death on three charges, 25 years’ imprisonment on another, and five years on a separate charge.
The Appellate Division, in a majority decision on October 31, 2019, upheld the death penalty in three charges and acquitted him of one. The full text of the verdict was published on March 15, 2020.
Azharul Islam filed a review petition on July 19, 2020, presenting 14 arguments in a 23-page submission. Following the review hearing, the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, granted permission on February 26, 2024, for a full appeal. The verdict of that appeal will be announced today.
