By Kevin M. Mathewson
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Police in Bangladesh clashed with Jamaat-e-Islami activists the day before a key verdict is due in the trial of Ghulam Azam, a 91 year old radical Islamist leader. Azam is accused of ‘crimes against humanity’ including planning, conspiracy, incitement, complicity and murder during the country’s 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

Roughly 400 Jamaat-e-Islami activists burned a police van and hurled crudely made bombs in Dhaka, the country’s capital. According to assistant police commissioner Saifur Rahman, a police officer was seriously injured in the fighting after being hit by a rock.

Previous verdicts against Islamist leaders have sparked violent protests.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Azam for his alleged role in the 1971 war. His supporters argue that the charges are politically motivated and have called for a general strike in protest.

“Tomorrow (Monday) is fixed for the verdict.” Chairman of the three-member International Crimes Tribunal, Justice Fazle Kabir said. If found guilty, this would be the fifth sentence handed down on current and former leaders of Jamaat-e-Isami. It has been estimated that more than 100 people have been killed in political violence since the first verdict was issued by the Tribunal in January.

Ghulam Azam was the former chief fundamentalist of Jamaat-e-Islami’s East Pakistan wing and provincial minister in 1971. Prosecutors say Azam played a role in setting up violent militia groups that killed and raped thousands of people. No longer politically active, Azam is still seen as a Jamaat-e-Islami spiritual leader.

Azam’s defense lawyers say the accusations are unfounded. They say the charges are based on newspaper reports of Azam’s speeches during the war and that none have been proved.

Azam strongly opposed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan, arguing at the time that it would divide the Muslim community.

Contrary to other war crime courts, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal is not supported by the United Nations. The New York based Human Rights Watch organization has said that the Tribunals procedures fall short of international standards.

Still, the Bangladesh government maintains the trials are needed to heal the wounds left by the 1971 war. While the Bangladesh government maintains upwards of three million people died in the conflict, independent estimates put the death toll between 300,000 and 500,000.

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Clashes in Bangladesh ahead of Azam war crimes verdict – 14 July 2013

Hindustan Times – Bangladesh: Riot run ahead of war crimes verdict – 14 July 2013

India Today – Bangladesh tense as clashes erupt ahead of war crimes verdict – 14 July 2013

Arab News – Bangladesh to deliver verdict on top war crimes suspect – 14 July 2013