April 16
BANGLADESH:
Bangla court hands down death penalty to 22 in MP murder case
22 people were today awarded death penalty and 6 others life sentence by a
special Bangladesh court for the assassination of a popular MP of the main
Opposition Awami League.
Judge Shahed Nooruddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal handed down the
verdict in the Ahsanullah Master murder case in a crowded court room,
court sources said, adding he acquitted 2 others implicated in the case.
Of the 28 convicts, 17 were on the run, but main accused Nurul Islam
Sarker, who belonged to the youth front of the ruling Bangladesh
Nationalist Party, was in the dock. He had earlier surrendered to the
court.
Master, a popular Awami League MP, and a school boy were killed when about
20 gunmen sprayed bullets in nearby Tongi area in May last year.
(source: The Hindu)
IRAN:
Death sentences suspended for dissidents
Substitute Tehran Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said the
judiciary is not implementing a number of death sentences handed to
dissidents working against the Islamic establishment for reasons of
expediency.
According to ISNA, the senior cleric told the Friday congregation that
some people could have been executed immediately, had it not been for the
interest of the Islamic Republic.
"Many of these people have dossiers which could certainly cost them their
lives only if they were to appear before a court," he said, adding that
there are cases in which the death sentence has been confirmed by the
Appeals Court, whereas the convict is still alive for reasons of
expediency.
Jannati said some criticize the judicial apparatus for its laxity and
indifference toward these people.
"We need to preserve the Islamic establishment because safeguarding the
Islamic Republic is akin to preserving the religion," he said.
Noting that taking up arms is permissible when the Islamic Republic is in
danger, Ahmadi said, "We currently need tranquility to avoid harming the
Islamic establishment."
(source: IranMania)
