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| religion = [[Islam]]
| religion = [[Islam]]
| denomination = <!-- Denomination should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| denomination = <!-- Denomination should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| criminal_charge = Charges of [[Atrocity|atrocities]], [[rape]] and [[mass murder]] during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]. Charged with killing 344 civilians.<ref>http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268072</ref><ref>http://news.yahoo.com/bangladesh-islamist-sentenced-life-prison-war-crimes-123137810.html</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/13/shahbag-protest-bangladesh-quader-mollah</ref>
| criminal_charge = Falsely Charges of [[Atrocity|atrocities]], [[rape]] and [[mass murder]] during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]]. Charged with killing 344 civilians.<ref>http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268072</ref><ref>http://news.yahoo.com/bangladesh-islamist-sentenced-life-prison-war-crimes-123137810.html</ref><ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/13/shahbag-protest-bangladesh-quader-mollah</ref> as a consequence of political killing.
| criminal_penalty = Death penalty
| criminal_penalty = Death penalty
| criminal_status = Scheduled to be executed on 11 December, 2013 at 12:01am
| criminal_status = Scheduled to be executed on 11 December, 2013 at 12:01am

Revision as of 15:02, 10 December 2013

Abdul Quader Molla
আবদুল কাদের মোল্লা
Born
Abdul Quader Molla

1948
Amirabad, Faridpur
CitizenshipBangladeshi
EducationDhaka University
OccupationJournalist
EmployerFormer executive editor of The Daily Sangram
OrganizationJamaat e Islami
Known forPolitics, Journalism, War crimes
Criminal charge(s)Falsely Charges of atrocities, rape and mass murder during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Charged with killing 344 civilians.[1][2][3] as a consequence of political killing.
Criminal penaltyDeath penalty
Criminal statusScheduled to be executed on 11 December, 2013 at 12:01am

Abdul Quader Molla (Bengali: আবদুল কাদের মোল্লা) (born 14 August, 1948)[4] is a politician in Bangladesh, convicted of war crimes during 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh.[5] He is the assistant secretary-general of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist party in the country.[5][6] He has been scheduled to be executed on 11 December, 2013 at 12:01am according to the Senior Jail Superintendent Forman Ali.[7]

He is the former executive editor of The Daily Sangram, and twice unsuccessfully stood for parliament in 1986 and 1996, contesting the seat Faridpur-4 for Jamaat-e-Islami.[8]

He was convicted on five of six counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes at his trial at the International Crimes Tribunal, on 5 February 2013. A member of the Al-Badar militia during the liberation war, Mollah was convicted of killing 344 civilians and other crimes.[5][9] He was sentenced to life in prison.[10]

As a direct result of the sentence the 2013 Shahbag protests began with the protestors demanding capital punishment for all those on trial.[11] The protest spread from Dhaka to other parts of the country. Protesters called for those convicted of war crimes to be sentenced to capital punishment, and also to ban Jamaat-e-Islami.[12] Jamaat-e-Islmi started violent counter-protest in the country, demanding the release of its convicted and accused leaders.[13]

On September 17, 2013, the Bangladesh Supreme Court found Molla guilty of murders and other war crimes and he was given capital punishment, converting his life sentence to death sentence.[14]

Early life

Abdul Quader Molla was born in the village of Amirabad, Faridpur in 1948. He attended school at Amirabad Fazlul Huq Institute. In 1966, while studying for a science degree at Rajendra College, Faridpur, he joined the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, then known as 'Islami Chatra Sangha' (ICS), and was elected as president. He graduated from Rajendra College in 1968, and the following year he enrolled in a Master's programme at Dhaka University. While studying there, he was elected president of the Shahidullah Hall unit of the Islami Chatra Sangha.[8][5]

Political career

In 1971 leaders of Jamaat opposed the independence movement in East Pakistan, as they believed it went against Islam to break up the Muslim state. As a member of Islaim Chatra Sangha, Quader Molla joined its paramilitary force, Al-Badar, during the liberation war.[5][15][13] But, Bangladesh achieved independence that year. Jamaat was banned from political participation under the new government.

After assassination of the president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 and a military coup, the new government permitted Jamaat to participate in politics again. Quader Molla became active in the party. By 2010 he was assistant secretary general of the party.[13] He was elected to the Bangladesh National Press Club, in recognition of his status.[16]

War crimes trial

In the twenty-first century, the government of Bangladesh established an International Crimes Tribunal to prosecute war crimes that were committed in 1971 during the liberation war. A formal charge was filed by the Prosecution against Abdul Quader Molla on 18 December 2011 in the form of a petition, as required under Section 9(1) of the 1973 Act.[17]

He was charged with abetting the Pakistani army and actively participating in the 1971 Bangladesh atrocities: rape (including the rape of minors) and mass murder of Bangladeshis in the Mirpur area of Dhaka during the Bangladesh Liberation War. A member of the Rajakar militia during the war, Mollah was charged with killing 344 civilians.[5][9][18] As The Independent reported:

"Abdul Quader Mollah, the assistant secretary-general of Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami party, sparked protests when he emerged from Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on 4 February having been handed a life sentence for his role in the atrocities committed during the 1971 war for independence. He was clearly happy with the ruling – giving a victory sign to supporters outside the court. But critics of the so-called Butcher of Mirpur – who was convicted of of beheading a poet, raping an 11-year-old girl and shooting 344 people – have been left fuming over the sentence, and are calling for him to face the death sentence, like fellow accused Abul Kalam Azad."[13][19]

Verdict

Under section 20(3) of the Act of 1973, the International Crimes Tribunal announced a verdict and handed down a life sentence to Abdul Quader Molla on 5 February 2013, with an additional 15-year sentence to be served in addition to the time he has been imprisoned since his arrest.[20]

Reaction

Some activists protested and demonstrated, demanding the death penalty and an end to extremism in politics. A major protest started at the Shahbag intersection in central Dhaka.[21][22] Bloggers and online activists called for further mass demonstration at Shahbag intersection.[12][23] Thousands of people joined the protest and the demonstration culminated in the 2013 Shahbag protests.[24]

Since the start of protests, tens of thousands of people have been holding day-and-night vigils at Shahbag, refusing to leave until all those convicted of war crimes are sentenced to capital punishment.[25] A counter protest against the trials and general strike was launched by Jamaat-e-Islami, as most of the accused have been Jamaat leaders.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had initially expressed support for Jamaat-e-Islami, a principal ally in their Four-Party Alliance in the 2000s.[26] The BNP has commented on the Shahbag Protest, warning that the government should not be allowed to draw political mileage from the movement that is demanding capital punishment for convicted war criminals.[27]

Responding to the demand of the Shahbag activists, on 13 February 2013, the National Press Club of Bangladesh stripped Quader Molla of his membership.[16] On 17 February 2013, the Bangladeshi Parliament passed a bill amending the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act of 1973.[28]

Jamaat members have also led protests against the trials, saying that the government is trying to suppress the opposition. It called for a general strike in Dhaka, shutting down activity in the city.

Death sentence

On September 17, 2013, Bangladesh Supreme Court found Molla guilty of murders and other war crimes and ordered his execution, converting his life sentence to death sentence.[14] He has been scheduled to be executed on 11 December, 2013 at 12:01am according to the Senior Jail Superintendent Forman Ali.[29]

References

  1. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=268072
  2. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/bangladesh-islamist-sentenced-life-prison-war-crimes-123137810.html
  3. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/13/shahbag-protest-bangladesh-quader-mollah
  4. ^ Macpherson, Caroline (February 5, 2013). "ICT convicts A. Q. Molla of 5 charges and sentences him to life imprisonment". International law bureau.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Summary of verdict in Quader Mollah case". The Daily Star. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Bangladesh jails Islamic party leader for life". The Guardian. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  7. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/mollah-to-be-executed-tonight/
  8. ^ a b "কাদের মোল্লার যাবজ্জীবন : দ্বিতীয় রায় (Kader Molla life sentence: the second verdict)". Amar Desh. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ a b "Bangladesh Islamist sentenced to life in prison for war crimes". 5 Feb 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Huge Bangladesh rally seeks death penalty for War Crimes". BBC. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  11. ^ Al-Mahmood, Syed Zain (23 February 2013). "Bangladesh split as violence escalates over war crimes protests". The Observer.
  12. ^ a b "Bangladesh's rising voices". Aljazeera. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d Philip Hensher (19 February 2013). "The war Bangladesh can never forget". The Independent. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  14. ^ a b Criminal Appeal(A) 24/2013; http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/09/17/quader-molla-to-go-to-the-gallows-for-murders
  15. ^ The Economist, 1 July 2010, accessed 7 March 2013.
  16. ^ a b "Molla, Kamaruzzaman stripped of Press Club membership". bdnews24.com. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  17. ^ "Summary of verdict in Quader Mollah case". The Daily Star. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  18. ^ Tahmima Anam (13 February 2013). "Shahbag protesters versus the Butcher of Mirpur". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2013. Mollah smiled because for him, a man convicted of beheading a poet, raping an 11-year-old girl and shooting 344 people during the 1971 Bangladesh war of independence – charges that have earned him the nickname the Butcher of Mirpur
  19. ^ Agence France-Presse (5 Feb 2013). "Riots in Bangladesh as 'Butcher of Mirpur' gets life for war crimes". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 26 February 2013. He directly participated in the killing of over 350 unarmed Bengali civilians including a poet and a top journalist," the prosecutor Mohammad Ali said, adding he was known as "Butcher of Mirpur", a Dhaka suburb.
  20. ^ [1], The Daily Star
  21. ^ "OUTRAGED", The Daily Star, 6 February 2013
  22. ^ "Verdict surprises some top jurists", The Daily Star, 7 February 2013
  23. ^ "Compilation of Shahbag Movement: A new Sun Uplifts". Priyo.com. 11 February 2013.
  24. ^ "Outrage explodes over verdict", The Daily Star, 7 February 2013
  25. ^ "Masses rally for death sentence to all war criminals". Bdnews24.com. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  26. ^ "Bangladesh war crimes trial: Key defendants". BBC. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  27. ^ "BNP cautiously welcomes Shahbag protests". bdnews24.com. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  28. ^ http://bangladeshtrialobserver.org/2013/03/07/amendment-of-international-crimes-tribunal-act-of-1973/
  29. ^ http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/mollah-to-be-executed-tonight/

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