The Unites Nations’ human rights body has called the government of Bangladesh to halt execution war crimes convict and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman.
The UN Human Rights Office, in a statement, made the call on Wednesday.
“We urgently call on the government of Bangladesh to halt the execution of Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, which is reportedly imminent, following the rejection of his appeal on Monday by the Supreme Court,” said Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Kamaruzzaman was sentenced to death on charges of crimes against humanity by the International Crimes Tribunal.
“The trial was reportedly rife with irregularities and did not meet international fair trial standards,” said Ravina.
The statement reads: “The UN Human Rights Office has long warned that, given serious concerns about the fairness of trials conducted before the tribunal, the government of Bangladesh should not implement death penalty sentences.”
The spokesperson also said: “The UN opposes the use of the death penalty, even in cases where stringent fair trial standards appear to have been met and even for the most serious international crimes.”
“We urge the government of Bangladesh to impose a moratorium on the death penalty and join the growing number of States that have abolished this inhuman practice,” the statement adds.
