As social platforms pour anger over the verdict for Ghulam Azam, the chief collaborator of 1971, Justice Minister Shafique Ahmed believes the judgement has ‘fulfilled the people’s expectations’.
He told reporters on Monday, “The tribunal delivered a verdict after a long hearing of international standard, which allowed the accused Ghulam Azam full rights to his defence. All the five charges against him have been proven.”
There is no scope to raise questions about the standard and transparency of the tribunal’s judgement, the minister said.
“The court explained the verdict saying it has considered Ghulam Azam’s age, the verdict is in accordance with international norms.”
The 91-year-old has been found guilty by the war crimes tribunal of all five categories of crime — conspiracy, planning, incitement, complicity and murder.
Azam will serve the 90 year sentence “consecutively or till his death”, said presiding judge Justice A T M Fazle Kabir.
The prosecution said they are unhappy with the verdict and will decide on an appeal once they receive the full copy of the verdict. The defence said it too will appeal.
Ten student and youth organisations, who are a part of the Shahbagh protests, have called a daylong nationwide general strike for Tuesday in protest the verdict. Jamaat-e-Islami also called a shutdown on Tuesday demanding the release their leader.
When asked if the government is pleased with the verdict, Minister Shafique said everyone had to abide by the verdict.
He was asked if the verdict was a compromise, to which he said, I don’t think there was any compromise.”
Shafique Ahmed said the Awami League was continuing the trial of war criminals in line with its electoral promise. There is ‘no lack of the government’s sincerity’ in this matter.
Source: Bd news24
ICC & HR have said once again that they are in favour of a fair & transparent trial that conforms the law, rules, regulation and procedure of the ICC. But the current cases have not been.
Current Bangla government ministers reiterated prime minister Hasina’s statement standing in parliament:“NONE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAVE THE WAR CRIMINALS. OURS IS NOT AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL BUT A DOMESTIC COURT & WE ARE TRYING THE WAR CRIMINALS ACCORDING TO OUR LAW THAT IS SIMILAR TO INTERNATIONAL LAW. OUTSIDERS MUST NOT INTERFERE IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS BECAUSE WE DO NOT INTERFERE IN OTHER PEOPLES DOMESTIC MATTER”. (1)—
Moreover, Al-hilal said 4 month ago, getting a word from Bangla judiciary that Prof/.Ghulam Azam would be “GIVEN 100 YEARS JAIL SENTENCE”. to save the face of the government that came under severe criticism suspecting this had been a politically motivated Kangaroo court trial to eliminate the entire upper echelon of country’s largest Islamic party to settle political old score & de-Islamize this Muslim country. Against Prof Ghulam Azam not a single eye witness could be produced. Not he but Pakistan army was the creator and guide of the Auxiliaries Advocate Fatima Begum Phooljhari, Dhaka:15 July,2013 (2)
Read the full report : http. http://www.presstv.ir. Dhaka:15.07.13