Islamist leader, formerly sentenced to death, found not guilty by Bangladesh's highest court, according to legal representation.
The Bangladesh Supreme Court has acquitted A.T.M. Azharul Islam, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, of crimes against humanity. The decision, handed down by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on May 25, 2025, overturned a death sentence given by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in 2014. Islam had been charged with involvement in war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan.
Born in 1952, Islam has been in custody since 2012. He was among six senior political leaders convicted during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, whose fifteen-year autocratic rule as prime minister came to an end in August 2024 following a student-led revolt. The upcoming elections, scheduled to take place by June 2026, have political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, bracing for a significant political shift.
Islam's lawyer, Shishir Monir, described the verdict as a stroke of fortune. According to Monir, the other five senior political leaders who were convicted had already been executed. "He got justice because he is alive," said Monir, adding that the appellate division failed to review the evidence in other cases for crimes against humanity.
Islam was sentenced to death for rape, murder, and genocide during the 1971 independence war. Jamaat-e-Islami supported Islamabad during the war, a move that still sparks resentment among many Bangladeshis. During her tenure, Hasina had banned Jamaat-e-Islami and cracked down on its leaders.
Following the acquittal, Islam was ordered to be released from jail unless he was being held in connection with other cases. Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami celebrated the ruling. The party's leader, Shafiqur Rahman, also remembered those who were hanged, referring to them as victims of judicial killings.
The move comes as the interim government prepares for much-anticipated elections. Political parties are gearing up for a power struggle, with rivals of Jamaat-e-Islami questioning its historical role in supporting Pakistan during the 1971 war. "We, as individuals or as a party, are not beyond making mistakes," Rahman said without specifying further. "We seek your pardon, if we have done anything wrong."
This legal development is significant, representing a turning point in the long-standing political and legal issues in Bangladesh. However, the reasons for the acquittal remain unclear at this time.
- The acquittal of A.T.M. Azharul Islam, a senior leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, in the war crimes case has sparked a debate in the realm of crime and justice, with politics also playing a significant role.
- As the elections in 2026 approach, policy-and-legislation and general-news outlets will likely delve into the implications of Islam's acquittal, particularly in relation to war-and-conflicts, as the parties prepare for a power struggle.
- The judgment from the Bangladesh Supreme Court could potentially influence the party's stance on their historical role in supporting Pakistan during the 1971 war, raising questions about justice and reconciliation in a nation still healing from conflict.
