HRW for immediate stay of death sentence

The Bangladesh Supreme Court's rejection of the death penalty review petition for Muhammed Kamaruzzaman permitted his imminent execution despite a seriously flawed trial, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement.

Kamaruzzaman, a leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was convicted of war crimes committed during Bangladesh's 1971 War of Independence. The authorities should immediately stay Kamaruzzaman's death sentence pending an independent review of his case.

It said Kamaruzzaman's death sentence was upheld on appeal in November 2014. Following publication of the full text of the judgment against him, he filed for an independent review of his sentence by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in March last. Without hearing the application on its merits, the country's highest court summarily rejected his petition and upheld the death sentence.

"The death penalty is an irreversible and cruel punishment that is made even worse when the judiciary fails to fully review such sentences," said Brad Adams, Asia director of the HRW.

"Bangladesh's war crimes trials have been plagued by persistent and credible allegations of fair trial violations that require impartial judicial review," he said.

He said the HRW had long supported justice and accountability for the horrific crimes that had occurred in 1971, but the trials need to meet international fair trial standards.

"Delivering justice requires adhering to the highest standards, particularly when a life is at stake. The conduct of Kamaruzzaman's trial cannot be said to have met those standards," Adams said.

The statement said the HRW reiterated its longstanding call for Bangladesh to impose an immediate moratorium on the death penalty. The death penalty is inconsistent with international human rights law, according to statements of UN human rights experts and various UN bodies.

jubairfe1980@gmail.com