New York based human rights watchdog Human Rights on Monday urged Bangladesh authorities to suspend the death penalty for Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami with immediate effect.
“The death sentence against Matiur Rahman Nizami should be suspended with immediate effect,” said the Human Rights Watch.
The Supreme Court’s May 5 rejection of his review petition means that former minister Nizami could be hanged any time after the deadline to appeal for presidential clemency expires.
“Several prominent international observers have expressed serious concerns over previous death penalty convictions handed down by the ICT,B due to concerns over fair trials,” read the HRW release published on its website.
“Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as an irreversible, degrading, and cruel punishment,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “It is particularly problematic when there are questions about whether proceedings meet fair trial standards.”
The HRW also alleged that the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh put an “arbitrary limit on the number of witnesses Nizami could call to defend himself against charges of war crimes.”
It said Nizami was ultimately allowed to call just four witnesses in his defense.
“He was not allowed to challenge prosecution witnesses who allegedly had offered prior inconsistent testimony. Conversations leaked to the Economist as part of the “Skypegate” scandal also revealed that the Nizami trial was unlawfully discussed by the presiding judge, the prosecution, and an external consultant, who were heard debating trial strategies,” read the HRW release.
It further said the Human Rights Watch strongly supports the need for justice and accountability for war crimes committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 conflict but has pointed out numerous shortcomings in ICT,B proceedings leading to “flawed judgments and, in some cases, hangings, despite well-documented fair trial concerns.”
Human Rights Watch also called on the Bangladeshi government to impose a moratorium on the death penalty with a plan to abolish it altogether. Over 20 people have been executed since the Awami League government took office in 2009.
“While many in Bangladesh believe Nizami to be guilty and want him punished, justice is only served through fair trials,” said Adams. “Instead of expedited hangings, authorities in Bangladesh should do everything possible to ensure that victims receive accurate answers about responsibility for crimes of such gravity and magnitude.”
Source: Prothom Alo
