SC starts hearing Nizami's appeal against death penalty

The Supreme Court yesterday started hearing on the appeal filed by Motiur Rahman Nizami challenging a verdict that sentenced him to death and life imprisonment for his crimes against humanity in the Liberation War.

A four-member bench of the SC then adjourned the hearing till November 3 as it will go on its annual vacation from September 18 till October 31, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told The Daily Star.

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He said the SC has only two days' time for appeal hearings next week and hearing on the Jamaat-e-Islami chief's appeal will not be finished in the two days.

The SC began hearing on the appeal with the attorney general placing eight war crime charges on which Nizami was convicted and sentenced to death, and life imprisonment.

On October 29 last year, International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced Nizami to death on four charges of war crimes, including murder of intellectuals. The 71-year-old was also sentenced to life imprisonment on four other charges.

Nizami on November 23 of the same year filed the appeal with the SC challenging the ICT-1 verdict.