Top court sets Apr 22 for review hearing on Jamaat leader Azharul's death sentence

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam's appeal against his death sentence for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

A five-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed granted Azharul's review petition and scheduled a hearing for Apr 22.

Azharul was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal on Dec 30, 2014. He was found guilty of orchestrating mass killings, abduction and torture in the greater Rangpur area, where over 1,400 people were massacred in 1971.

Challenging the verdict, Azharaul filed an appeal on Jan 28, 2015. However, the Appellate Division subsequently upheld his death sentence on Oct 31, 2019.

After the full verdict was published on Mar 15, 2020, he submitted a petition for a review, which the Supreme Court has now accepted.

Azharul was arrested on Aug 22, 2012, from his Moghbazar residence on war crimes charges and has been in prison since then.

In recent weeks, Jamaat-e-Islami has organised nationwide protests and rallies demanding his release.