[JURIST] Islamist opposition leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was executed in Bangladesh on Saturday for war crimes committed in 1971 during the nation’s war of independence. Kamaruzzaman, who was one of the highest-ranking officials in the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party [party website], was convicted of [AFP report] committing torture, abduction and mass murder, including the killing of 120 unarmed farmers in the village of Sohagpu. Kamaruzzaman’s attorneys argued that, at 19 years old, he was too young to be held accountable for the crimes. Investigation into crimes committed during the country’s war of independence began in 2010 and led to the convictions of eight former officials, who have also been sentenced to death. While many in Bangladesh support Kamaruzzaman’s sentence, some critics believe that the execution is politically motivated. UN experts had previously urged [press release] Bangladesh to halt the execution. Shortly before the execution, the US Department of State [official website] commended Bangladesh for the “judicial rigor” that was applied to this ruling, but urged [press release] the country not proceed with the execution until the country’s justice system can achieve fairness and transparency, and meets international standards.

After the 2010 investigation, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and other Islamist party leaders were indicted [JURIST report] in June 2012, and convicted in 2013. In November the Supreme Court of Bangladesh [official website] upheld [JURIST report] the death sentence. In March, Kamaruzzaman filed a review petition [JURIST report] with the country’s apex court, urging the court to acquit him of the charges. Earlier this month, a Bangladeshi appeals court rejected [JURIST report] his final appeal.