Amnesty International questions trial, appeals process of Salauddin Quader, Mujahid 

Amnesty International has raised questions about the trial and appeal processes of war criminals Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, days before their death penalty review petitions are to be settled.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Oct 2015, 05:24 PM
Updated : 28 Oct 2015, 05:26 PM

“Serious flaws” occurred in their trial and appeal processes, the rights group said in a statement posted on its website.
 
The politicians face possible hanging for atroticities committed during the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan.
 
“Serious crimes were also committed by the pro-independence forces, but no one has been investigated or brought to justice for them,” the Amnesty International once again said.
 
“Their trial and appeals process were clearly flawed and since they now face the death penalty the ultimate miscarriage of justice may be only days away,” said David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s South Asia Research Director.

“The crimes committed during the war of independence were horrific, but the death sentences only perpetuate violence. The lack of fair trials makes the use of the death penalty even more disturbing.”
 

Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid

Supporters of the war crimes trial say lobbyists employed by Jamaat-e-Islami that sided with Pakistan in 1971 have been active since the trial began in 2009 to stop it.
A European Parliament MP Jean Lambert in her personal capacity also expressed concern at the Supreme Court upholding the death penalty in a letter to Bangladesh Ambassador to EU Ismat Jahan on Oct 23.
In 2013, Jamaat Secretary General Mujahid and BNP leader Chowdhury were sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on charges of war crimes and genocide.
Amnesty said the trials “failed to meet international standards for fair trial”.
Their review petitions will be heard on Nov 2 and traditionally the judgment comes a day later.
If their convictions are upheld, they will have only one option - to seek presidential clemency.
Amnesty International says they oppose the death penalty in any circumstances in any part of the world.