Bangladesh’s Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of an Islamist political leader on Wednesday whose conviction in 2013 for war crimes during the nation’s 1971 war for independence sparked deadly protests.
Delwar Hossain Sayedee, one of the top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, must remain in prison “for the rest of his natural life,” Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain said.
Soon after the verdict, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party demanded Sayeedi be released immediately, the party wrote on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Sayeedi, the most senior JeI leader to be convicted then, was charged on eight counts including guilty of charges including mass murder, torture, forcefully converting Hindus to Islam and even rape.
His conviction triggered fierce protests and clashes that killed dozens across the country.
Hundreds of thousands were killed and millions more were forced to escape to India in the 1971 war of independence after Bangladesh split from Pakistan.