Dhaka (AsiaNews) - This morning, a special court in Dhaka sentenced Motiur Rahman Nizami, head of the Islamic Jamaat-e-Islami fundamentalist party, for crimes against humanity committed during the war of independence of Bangladesh (1971).
The three judges of the International Tribunal-1 recognized him guilty of eight charges, including genocide, murder, torture and rape. One of the attorneys commented on the ruling calling it "a reflection of the seriousness of the crimes."
The government has already taken extraordinary security measures across the capital for fear of riots and violence stoked by Jamaat supporters similar to events in 2013 after other verdicts.
In particular Nizami (71 years) was charged with leading a militia that committed atrocities alongside the Pakistan Army in the final stages of the conflict. The court explained that the politician, considered to be a religious leader, has misinterpreted the Koran to encourage his followers to carry out a mass genocide.
In late January, Nizami had already been sentenced to death for arms trafficking by a court in Chittagong.
Although there are no accurate figures, during the Liberation War from Pakistan (1971) about 1.5 million civilians were killed and at least 200 thousand women raped. Of these victims, the majority belonged to the Hindu community. More than 60% of Bangladeshi refugees in India were Hindus. Some historians believe, however, that real toll of victims reaches almost 3 million.
