[JURIST] Haider Hossein, the Bangladeshi lawyer who prosecuted six Islamic militants executed [JURIST report] two weeks ago for the 2005 murders of two judges [JURIST report], was shot and killed Thursday in Jhalakathi, in southern Bangladesh. Jhalakathi police chief Habibur Rahman told AFP that Hossein had sought protection from authorities after receiving a threat on Tuesday. Police are currently investigating the murder, but cannot yet say whether the killer had any association with the militants that Hossain prosecuted. The executed militants had been convicted in the 2005 murders of two judges [JURIST report] and were members of the banned Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh and the Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh [SATP backgrounders]. They had admitted to attacking judges because they wanted to replace the secular legal system with Sharia law [CFR backgrounder]. All six had unsuccessfully appealed for clemency from Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed [official profile] last month after the Bangladesh Supreme Court [official website] rejected their appeal in November.

The Court previously stayed the execution [JURIST report] of the militants, who had been sentenced to die [JURIST report] by hanging in May 2006. Seven men were convicted for their role in the killings, but one remains at large. BBC News has more.