New York-based rights watchdog Human Rights Watch on Friday said the trial of the former chief of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islaami, Ghulam Azam, at the International Crimes Tribunal was ‘deeply flawed’ and ‘did not meet international fair trial standards.’
In a press release posted on its website, the HRW said it had found four major concerns about the trial that included an improper investigation by the judges on behalf of the prosecution, collusion and bias among prosecutors and judges, failure to take steps to protect
defence witnesses, changes in the trial court panel and lack of evidence to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
‘Among the most serious problems is the fact that the judges stated that they conducted an investigation to make up for deficiencies in the case presented by the prosecution. Judges in Bangladesh are only empowered to examine the evidence placed in front of them by the parties to the case,’ said the release.
The HRW said, ‘The defence counsel was not aware of this investigation and was thus unable to comment on or challenge the evidence obtained by the judges, which constitutes a serious violation of article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a party. The investigation
calls into serious question the impartiality of the court.’
The HRW Asia director Brad Adams said the government had ‘got the conviction it wanted, but it has failed to ensure a fair trial that settles once and for all whether Ghulam Azam was guilty.’
The problems with the Azam trial are manifold, and lead to the inescapable conclusion that there has been strong judicial bias towards the prosecution and grave violations of due process for trials, Adams said. ‘The victims of these crimes and their families deserve real answers, which can only be found through fair and transparent proceedings.’
The International Crimes Tribunal on July 15 sentenced Azam to life in prison for 90 years for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
-With New Age input
