Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, convicted of crimes against humanity during the suppression of the July 2024 movement, has formally demanded the annulment of her death sentence.

On March 30, the UK-based law firm Kingsley Napley, representing the Awami League President, sent an official letter to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) via email. The communication challenges the legitimacy of the proceedings, describing the trial as "unfair and illegal."

Allegations of International Standard Violations
The legal team asserts that the trial, conducted in Sheikh Hasina’s absence, violated international law and the fundamental benchmarks of a fair trial. The letter notes that the judicial process took place within a "hostile" political environment. It specifically points to the May 2025 ban on the Awami League and the subsequent arrests and harassment of party leaders and lawyers as factors that severely compromised judicial transparency.

Four Key Arguments by the Legal Team
The law firm presented four primary arguments for the reversal of the sentence:
1. Lack of Judicial Independence: Doubts regarding the autonomy of the tribunal.
2. Prosecutorial Bias: Allegations of extreme partiality within the prosecution team.
3. Deprivation of Due Process: Failure to provide the right to self-defense or legal representation.
4. Substandard Sentencing: Imposing a penalty without meeting international judicial criteria.

Kingsley Napley argued that these deviations collectively render the trial's outcome invalid. Furthermore, the letter characterized the amendment of the ICT’s mandate—originally established to try 1971 war crimes—to include the July movement as "beyond its jurisdiction."

Questions Over Prosecutorial Neutrality
The letter raised significant concerns regarding the neutrality of the then-Chief Prosecutor, Mohammad Tajul Islam. It highlighted his previous political affiliations and his public calls to ban the Awami League during the trial period. Additionally, the firm claimed that allegations of corruption within the prosecution have "critically damaged" the credibility of the judicial process.

Trial in Absentia and Human Rights Concerns
Sheikh Hasina, who has been in India since being ousted on August 5, 2024, was sentenced to death on November 17 last year for inciting and ordering the killing of 1,400 people. Her lawyers claim she was never formally notified of the charges nor allowed to appoint legal counsel. Citing concerns previously raised by organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, the letter likened such a trial to a "summary execution."

14-Day Ultimatum
The communication demands an immediate stay on the execution and the annulment of the verdict, insisting that any future proceedings must adhere to international standards. It also called for ensuring the safety of Sheikh Hasina’s legal representatives and requested a response within 14 days detailing the steps taken to address these grievances.

The International Crimes Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor has not yet commented on the matter.