Islamic militant sentenced to death for killing Evangelist

An Islamic militant who brutally murdered a Christian four years ago, was awarded death by a Bangladesh Court. The convicted, Mohammad Salaudin, is the regional commander of Jamaat–ul–Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a banned Islamic militant group.

The commander pleading guilty confessed to a magistrate that he slaughtered Ridoy Roy by slitting his throat on March 23, 2003.Roy was killed by Salauddin because he was engaged in converting Muslims to Christianity and showing films on Jesus.

On November 9, 2006 the accused and JMB leader Hafez Mahmud were allready sentenced to death for the murder of another Christian convert from Islam, Gani Gomes.

Open Doors, a Christian rights group who investigated the case, said, "A murder case was filed with Sarishabari Police Station following the 2003 incident, but the suspects remained at large."

Progress in the investigation and arrest of Salauddin came reportedly when he was arrested for his alleged involvement in a coil of bombings. Salaudin during the investigation said, he got his orders from JMB President Sheik Abdur Rahman, who was hanged in April last year with other top JMB Militants.

Salaudin in his adamant nature mentioned, "He is happy to have killed Hridoy, an enemy of Islam. Instead of appealing to the court I would rather appeal to Allah to judge those involved in giving me this verdict."

"Killing is permitted by the Quran for those who convert Muslims to Christianity. Hridoy was killed upon Allah’s orders," read a statement distributed after the hearing.

"He confessed to the killing of Hridoy," said Open Doors who monitored the trial closely.

Hridoy Roy was working with the Christian Life Bangladesh (CLB) group, as an evangelist. The grieved family is been financially supported by Open Doors.