Bangladesh rioting over court decision kills 52

At least 52 have died in rioting sparked by a death sentence given to an Islamic political party leader convicted of crimes linked to Bangladesh's 1971 independence war, police said Friday.

At least 52 have died in rioting sparked by a death sentence given to an Islamic political party leader convicted of crimes linked to Bangladesh's 1971 independence war, police said Friday.

Rioting-sparked-in-Bangladesh-by-a-death-sentence-given-to-Jamaat-e-Islami-leader-Delwar-Hossain-Sayedee-convicted-of-1971-Bangladesh-war-crimes

Top Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, who is also the vice-president of Jamaat-e-Islami party was on Thursday sentenced to death for "crimes against humanity", including genocide and religious persecution, during the country's 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.

Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan until it gained independence in 1971.

A special Bangladeshi tribunal handed down death penalty to him amid a nationwide shutdown called by Jamaat.

A Bangladeshi man rides past a truck set on fire by activists of Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami during a strike in Rajshahi, Bangladesh protesting the death sentence of Delwar Hossain Sayedee. AP

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, leader of Jamaat-e-Islami