The prosecution on Tuesday submitted a contempt petition against the international human rights organisation, Human Rights Watch (HRW), at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) for raising questions about the verdict against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Professor Ghulam Azam. Barrister Tureen Afroz submitted the petition to the registrar of the tribunal, seeking legal action against the New York-based organisation. Among others, the prosecution’s advocates, Zead Al Malum and Sultan Mahmud Simon, were present. In the petition, the prosecution also sought a stop to the publicity of the HRW’s
statements about the tribunal’s activities. It requested the tribunal to initiate legal proceedings against the rights body for posting false and unfounded information on its website.
The HRW, in a statement on August 16, said the trial of Ghulam Azam at the ICT-1 was “deeply flawed” and did not meet international standards. Judges improperly conducted an investigation on behalf of the prosecution, it alleged.
The HRW also expressed concern over the failure to take steps to protect defence witnesses and lack of evidence to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Brad Adams, executive director of the HRW in Asia, his associate Storm Tiv and the board of directors of the organisation were made respondents in the prosecution’s petition.
As the case against Ghulam Azam is pending before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, the statement of the HRW was tantamount to contempt of court, Tureen said. If the allegations are proved, an accused person will have to serve one year in jail or pay a fine of Tk. 5,000 or both, she added.
On July 15, the ICT-1 convicted and sentenced Ghulam Azam to 90 years’ imprisonment on five charges of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. Both Azam and the state have appealed against the verdict.
“The HRW’s statement about judicial matters in Azam’s trial has not only tarnished the image of the tribunal, but also raised questions about the entire trial process. Bangladesh is the only country where trials for crimes against humanity are held under domestic laws,” Tureen said, adding that Bangladesh had set a precedence in this regard.
Regarding crimes against humanity, she said they were not committed against any individual, but against mankind as a whole.
-With The Independent input
