Ghulam Azam (C), is escorted by security personnel and lawyers as he emerges from the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka, on January 11, 2012/AFP
DHAKA, Jul 15 – A special Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced a top Islamist to 90 years in prison for masterminding atrocities during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
Ghulam Azam, 90, the wartime head of the largest Islamic party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and now its spiritual leader, was found guilty of all five charges by the controversial International Crimes Tribunal.
“He has been sentenced to 90 years in prison or until his death for the charges,” prosecutor Sultan Mahmud told AFP.
The sentence came amid violent clashes in cities across Bangladesh between his supporters and police.
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