A major leader of Bangladesh’s largest Islamic group has been convicted on war crimes charges related to the country’s 1971 revolution.
Abdul Kader Mullah, 64, has been sentenced to life in prison.
The tribunal found Mullah guilty on five of six charges including murder. Mullah was found to be a leader of the al-Bahr force which Jamaat-e-Islami created in the final days of the war to kidnap, beat and execute intellectuals. Over 200 people were kidnapped and killed by the group.
Mullah is the second leader of the party to be found guilty of war crimes. When the verdict was read, Mullah screamed “Allahu Akbar” and began to curse the judges and the government.
Jamaat-e-Islami has called for a nationwide strike today and members of the group have attacked military and police forces throughout the country. At least one person has been killed in Chittagong in the violence. The group has vowed to “shut the country down” if the trial was not stopped but has not said what they will do now that their assistant secretary-general has been convicted and sentenced to prison.
Eight others remain on trial facing what they call “politically motivated” charges. Lawyers for Mullah have vowed to appeal to the country’s Supreme Court.
