Azharul walks free as SC overturns war crimes conviction

NN Online:
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam in a case related to crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

A seven-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the verdict, effectively overturning Azharul’s previous conviction.

Azharul had faced nine charges brought by the International Crimes Tribunal, including the killing of 1,256 people, abduction of 17 individuals, and the rape of 13 women in the Rangpur region during the war. Additional allegations included the torture of civilians and arson attacks on numerous homes.

On December 30, 2014, the Tribunal sentenced him to death after finding him guilty on five of the nine charges. He filed an appeal with the Appellate Division on January 28, 2015, asserting his innocence.

Although the Appellate Division initially upheld the death penalty in a verdict issued on October 23, 2019, Azharul filed a review petition on July 19, 2020. The hearing on this petition was postponed on April 22, 2025, and resumed on May 6.

After years of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court’s latest verdict now acquits Azharul of all charges, bringing a dramatic end to a case that has drawn national and international attention.