Today’s ICT verdict ‘transparent and impartial’, ours was ‘genocide of justice’: Jamaat-e-Islami

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has described the International Crimes Tribunal's verdict sentencing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to death for crimes against humanity as "transparent" and "impartial".

The party said the ruling demonstrated that "no one is above the law", and urged the neighbouring country currently sheltering "fugitive convicts" to return them to Bangladesh.

Speaking at a press conference, Jamaat's Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said, "The trial of these heinous criminals against humanity was the public aspiration of 18 crore people. Even if partially, today's verdict has fulfilled that hope to some extent."

Porwar described the day as "important" in the country's political and legal history, saying, "For the first time in Bangladesh, a head of government has been given the maximum punishment. It will be remembered."

He argued that the proceedings met international standards because they were conducted under a non-partisan interim government.

Porwar said, "The trial was completely transparent, impartial and internationally acceptable. Since the entire process was broadcast live, there was no scope for questioning its transparency."

Cmparing the tribunal's ruling with earlier verdicts against Jamaat's senior leaders, he said, "The cases against the beloved leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami in the name of crimes against humanity were questionable not only in Bangladesh but worldwide. Plaintiffs, witnesses, statements, even the verdicts were manipulated. Witnesses faced disappearances from the court premises, verdicts were dictated from abroad, and incidents like the Skype scandal occurred. British courts even termed that process a 'genocide of justice'."

Referring to the leaders executed in earlier cases, he added, "We will never get them back. They were tortured. That trial was the greatest torture in history. But today's verdict is fair, impartial, transparent and unquestionable."

The Jamaat leader also criticised countries that have granted refuge to individuals convicted over the July killings, saying such actions are "against international law".

Porwar said, "Those who sheltered fugitive death-row convicts have sided with these criminals and acted against international law. We demand they be sent back to Bangladesh and handed over to the justice system."

He added, "If a country demands democracy and good neighbourly relations, this is its first duty. A fugitive death-row convict must be handed over to the law without delay."

The ICT sentenced Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death for crimes against humanity committed during last year's July Uprising.

The third accused in the case, former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, was spared the death penalty and sentenced to five years in jail owing to his becoming a state witness.