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| Bangladesh |
| Petition against Jamaat likely next month |
| 2014-01-19 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] The government is likely to file a petition next month to try Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... for its crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, but due to absence of punishment in the related law, the initiative may not yield any result, many said. Investigations against Jamaat as a party began on August 18 last year for its involvement in crimes through several groups of collaborators formed under the party leadership. But the investigation officer and some legal professionals are concerned as there is no punishment meted out in the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act. The Sherlocks and the prosecution are now dealing with some observations made by the two tribunals about Jamaat -- a component of BNP-led 18-party alliance -- to prove its crimes as a "criminal organization" in 1971. The petition will be filed next month, barrister Tureen Afroz, one of the prosecutors, told the Dhaka Tribune. She said they would pray for a ruling on Jamaat to apologise to the nation for its role in 1971. But Investigation Officer Motiur Rahman is confused about the last part of the probe report where he has to pray for some punishment. He said: "The Act of 1973 does allow me to seek justice but not any specific punishment for any organization." On February 17 last year parliament passed an amendment empowering the tribunals to hold trial of any organization for committing crimes against humanity in 1971. The Act, however, does not have any provision of punishment. When asked, legal professional Shahdin Malik said: "It is a problem to make an organization subject to criminal law as it is not possible to sentence an organization to death. In this part of trial, we should have been specific. The punishment can be imposition of a ban on an organization. If we can specify it in the Act, then it will be more appropriate." Tureen differs with these arguments. "We can amend the Act anytime. But it is not necessary now." She added that in 20(2) of the Act, the tribunal shall award sentence of death or other punishment proportionate to the gravity of the crime as appears to the tribunal to be just and proper. "So the tribunal can give any punishment that they want," she said. However, alcohol has never solved anybody's problems. But then, neither has milk... Investigator Motiur said: "By 'any other punishment' is not proper for the organization. So if possible, the government can change this part [of the Act]." In August this year, the High Court has declared Jamaat's registration with the Election Commission illegal since its party constitution was found to be contradictory with the country's constitution and election rules. In many verdicts, the tribunals included some observations about Jamaat. It even suggested that the government bar anti-liberation people from holding key positions in any government, non-government and socio-political organizations. A tribunal in the verdict against Jamaat guru Ghulam Azam said: "In the interest of establishing a democratic as well as non-communal Bangladesh, we observe that no such anti-liberation people should be allowed to sit at the helm of executives of the government, social or political parties, including government and non-government organizations." Meanwhile, ...back at the argument, Jane reached into her purse for her .38... sentencing al-Badr leaders Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan to death for abducting and killing 18 intellectuals, the tribunal said: "It was Jamaat-e-Islami and its creations, fanatic groups like al-Badr, razakar, al-Shams, and the Peace Committee, who took a stance to 'save Pakistain and Islam' even if it required the obliteration of pro-liberation nation." The two tribunals made almost similar observations in the cases against other top Jamaat leaders Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman. |
| Posted by:Fred |