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SC Acquits Jamaat Leader Azharul of 1971 War Crimes Charges
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam in a case involving crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the verdict, overturning the previous conviction and death sentence handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
Azharul had faced nine charges, including the killing of 1,256 people, abduction of 17 individuals, rape of 13 women, arson, torture, and other atrocities committed in Rangpur during the war. The ICT had sentenced him to death on December 30, 2014, on five of the nine charges.
He challenged the verdict in the Appellate Division, which upheld the death penalty on October 23, 2019. The full verdict was published on March 15, 2020, prompting Azharul to file a review petition on July 19, 2020.
The hearing of the petition was stayed on April 22, 2024, until May 6. Following the final hearing, the court has now acquitted him of all charges, bringing an end to the prolonged legal battle.