Azharul's acquittal upholds justice, says law advisor

The acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam in a war crimes case has paved the way for justice to be upheld, says Law Advisor Asif Nazrul.

He made a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, giving credit to the leaders of the July Movement for the overturning of the International Crimes Tribunal’s verdict.

Asif wrote, “Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam has been proven innocent and cleared of the death penalty in a case of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court headed by the chief justice has unanimously approved his review against the sentence. The verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal sentencing Azharul to death and the one by the Appellate Division upholding the ICT verdict, both were declared nullified through today's verdict."

It is the responsibility of everyone to maintain the opportunity now created for the "establishment of justice," the law advisor said.

A seven-member full bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed delivered the verdict on Tuesday acquitting Azharul after hearing his appeal for the second time in six years.

The verdict comes after the political changeover following the July Uprising. This is the first time that someone has been acquitted following a review petition in a 1971 war crimes case.

Lawyers were jubilant after the verdict was announced. Jamaat-e-Islami's slogan “Naraye Takbir” was heard on the court premises.

Azharul's legal counsel Md Shishir Manir said, "Through this verdict, truth has won out and lies were defeated."

Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state at the hearing, but refrained from making any comments.

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

Overturning those two verdicts, the current Appellate Division said that the division in the past "failed to properly consider" the evidence and information available on the case.

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

The top court has ordered that Azharul be released if there are no cases pending against him.