Bangladesh Islamists Death Sentence Sparks Deadly Riots

[News_Editor]

Delwar Hossain Sayedee, vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, sits inside a vehicle next to a police officer on his way to a court in Dhaka on Feb. 28, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)

DHAKA — A Bangladeshi Islamist party leader was sentenced to death on Thursday over abuses carried out during the country’s independence war, triggering riots that killed at least 30 people.

Delwar Hossain Sayedee, 73, vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was found guilty by Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal of mass killing, rape, arson, looting and forcing minority Hindus to convert to Islam during the 1971 war of separation from Pakistan, lawyers and tribunal officials said.

After he was convicted and sentenced, police clashed with activists from Sayedee’s party and violence raged in more than a dozen areas around the country, police, witnesses and media reports said.

At least three policemen were among the dead and around 300 were wounded, they added.

Protesters, who said the verdict was politically motivated, set fire to a Hindu temple and several houses in southern Noakhali region, reporters said. In the southeastern region of Cox’s Bazar, they attacked a police camp, killing one.

Two policemen were killed when Islamists stormed a police station at Sundarganj in northern Gaibandha district, police said. “We have been virtually besieged. It’s a horrible situation,†station officer Manzur Rahman told Reuters.

Members of the religious party—known simply as Jamaat—called for a national strike on Sunday and Monday, raising fears of more violence. Sayedee was the third senior party member convicted by the tribunal.

In the capital, authorities deployed extra police and paramilitary soldiers, a Home Ministry official told reporters.

Thousands of people in the capital’s Shahbag square, who support the tribunal and have been protesting for weeks to demand the highest penalty for war criminals, burst into cheers as the sentence was announced.

Sayedee looked defiant but remained calm in the dock as judges read out the verdict, witnesses said.

“I didn’t commit any crime and the judges are not giving the verdict from the core of their heart,†Sayedee told the tribunal, said reporters at the hearing.

State prosecutor Haider Ali told reporters he was happy with the verdict which he said “appropriately demonstrated justice.â€

Defense attorney Abdur Razzak said the sentence was politically motivated. “He is a victim of sheer injustice. We will appeal,†he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the tribunal in 2010 to investigate abuses during the war that claimed about 3 million lives. Thousands of women were raped during the conflict.

The tribunal has been criticised by rights groups for failing to adhere to international standards. Human Rights Watch said lawyers, witnesses and investigators reported they had been threatened.

Critics say the tribunal is being used by the prime minister as an instrument against her opponents in the two biggest opposition parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami. Begum Khaleda Zia, Hasina’s arch rival and leader of the BNP, has called the tribunal a farce.

Hasina’s party has denied allegations of bias.

On Jan. 21, the tribunal sentenced Abul Kalam Azad, a former Jamaat member, to death in absentia after he was found guilty of torture, rape and genocide during the independence war.

In its second verdict, on Feb. 5, the tribunal sentenced another senior Jamaat member, Abdul Quader Mollah, 64, to life in prison after he was found guilty of murder, rape, torture and arson.

Both verdicts triggered protests by Jamaat supporters, in which at least 15 people were killed.

Nine more people, mostly Jamaat members, are facing trial for war crimes, tribunal officials said.

The overwhelmingly Muslim south Asian country of 160 million people would likely see more violence in the run-up to parliamentary elections in January, in which both Hasina and Khaleda will run for power, analysts said.

Bangladesh became part of Pakistan at the end of British colonial rule in 1947. But the country, then known as East Pakistan, won independence with India’s help in December 1971 following a nine-month war against the then West Pakistan.

Some factions in Bangladesh opposed the break with Pakistan, including the Jamaat. Jamaat leaders have denied involvement in abuses.

Additional reporting by Ruma Paul and Serajul Quadir

Source: Irrawaddy.org

[Rancid]

Well he thinks 30 virgins await, others argue a BBQ, suspect though he will be reincarnated as a women under Sharia Law to contemplate matters.

[pieandmash]

Went past the Bangladesh Embassy in London today, there was a load of idiots in robes protesting with the usual placards extolling the virtues of sharia law and a Police presence paid for by the good citizens of the UK.

[Steely Dan]

I'm not sure quite what the chap did wrong, in reference to the dictates of his own Sharia law that is. We may find it a barbaric relic of a bygone age, but at least only a tiny minority of Muslims in the West would still prefer to live under Sharia law, I think.

[Potosi]

A Bangladeshi Islamist party leader was sentenced to death on Thursday over abuses carried out during the country’s independence war, triggering riots that killed at least 30 people. Delwar Hossain Sayedee, 73, vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was found guilty by Bangladesh’s war crimes tribunal of mass killing, rape, arson, looting and forcing minority Hindus to convert to Islam during the 1971 war of separation from Pakistan, lawyers and tribunal officials said.

Bangladesh became part of Pakistan at the end of British colonial rule in 1947. But the country, then known as East Pakistan, won independence with India’s help in December 1971 following a nine-month war against the then West Pakistan.

It was a genocide, actually. Up to 3 million ethnic Bengali and Hindu minority people killed by the Pakistani military, that's bigger than Cambodia and Rwanda. 10 million fled East Pakistan to India. Not mentioned frequently anymore because Pakistan remains a faithful ally of the West. India negotiated a friendship treaty with the Soviet Union before it declared war on Pakistan. The US deployed the USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal to aid Pakistan, the Soviets a fleet of their warships to counter it. India needed only 2 weeks to defeat Pakistan.

All for nothing. The Islamists and war criminals enjoy growing support.

[Bwanatickey]

He should flee to the U.K and he will be granted asylum,as his life is in danger. Plus the U.K does not extridite victims to countries who have the death sentence.

[Thaddeus]

The religion of peace strikes again, God is great, isn't he.

[jbrain]

Let them continue killing each other, problem solves itself that way.

[mccw]

He should flee to the U.K and he will be granted asylum,as his life is in danger. Plus the U.K does not extridite victims to countries who have the death sentence.

Give him and his family a free house in London and benefits life also

[moonray]

Two old ladies hate each other - nothing to do with religion.

[Steely Dan]

The bloke hasn't even been executed yet, and the deathtoll from rioting is 87 last I looked. Mainly police and minority Hindus, but you can see which way things are going here - the Bangladesh Spring. Yet again Islamic parties protest for their democratic right to ethnically cleanse, but if they do it will get precious little press coverage over here.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Islamic-party-wants-to-expel-minorities,-reunify-with-Pakistan-27323.html

[Fozfromoz]

He should flee to the U.K and he will be granted asylum,as his life is in danger. Plus the U.K does not extridite victims to countries who have the death sentence.

Not sure about victims being extradited, but they did extradite that Aldhouse guy to Thailand, for alleged murder. Thailand has the death penalty.

[simple1]

Some people are never satisfied. You have an Islamist government successfully prosecuting an Islamic anti independence, pro Taliban war crimes suspect & amongst the accused list of crimes was the killing of Hindus and forcible conversion. As post #11 stated the riots and killings are not about religion, but power politics.

[Steely Dan]

Some people are never satisfied. You have an Islamist government successfully prosecuting an Islamic anti independence, pro Taliban war crimes suspect & amongst the accused list of crimes was the killing of Hindus and forcible conversion. As post #11 stated the riots and killings are not about religion, but power politics.

I wouldn't call the Awami league Islamists, they are centre-left and secular as far as I was aware. The opposition are indeed Islamists, who are calling for the expulsion of Hindus and Christians as well as reunification with Pakistan, if you want to believe this has nothing to do with religion good luck with that one.

P.S Though Islam is both a religion and a political ideology, so you could try that tack if you like, not that it matters much to scores of dead Hindus and policemen.

Edited March 9, 2013 by Steely Dan

[simple1]

Some people are never satisfied. You have an Islamist government successfully prosecuting an Islamic anti independence, pro Taliban war crimes suspect & amongst the accused list of crimes was the killing of Hindus and forcible conversion. As post #11 stated the riots and killings are not about religion, but power politics.

I wouldn't call the Awami league Islamists, they are centre-left and secular as far as I was aware. The opposition are indeed Islamists, who are calling for the expulsion of Hindus and Christians as well as reunification with Pakistan, if you want to believe this has nothing to do with religion good luck with that one.

P.S Though Islam is both a religion and a political ideology, so you could try that tack if you like, not that it matters much to scores of dead Hindus and policemen.

Secular is a bit of a stretch. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lunched ‘Quran Digital site’ to propagate Islam and to convert Non Muslim Minorities in Bangladesh. URL: http://hinduexistence.org/tag/awami-league/

She is now considering banning the main opposition party, as I said power politics

Edited March 10, 2013 by simple1

[Steely Dan]

Some people are never satisfied. You have an Islamist government successfully prosecuting an Islamic anti independence, pro Taliban war crimes suspect & amongst the accused list of crimes was the killing of Hindus and forcible conversion. As post #11 stated the riots and killings are not about religion, but power politics.

I wouldn't call the Awami league Islamists, they are centre-left and secular as far as I was aware. The opposition are indeed Islamists, who are calling for the expulsion of Hindus and Christians as well as reunification with Pakistan, if you want to believe this has nothing to do with religion good luck with that one.

P.S Though Islam is both a religion and a political ideology, so you could try that tack if you like, not that it matters much to scores of dead Hindus and policemen.

Secular is a bit of a stretch. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lunched ‘Quran Digital site’ to propagate Islam and to convert Non Muslim Minorities in Bangladesh. URL: http://hinduexistence.org/tag/awami-league/

She is now considering banning the main opposition party, as I said power politics

Upon formation Bangladesh consisted of 30% Hindus, that figure is now down to 10%, to be fair there has been a reverse exodus of Muslims leaving parts of India for Bangladesh. If this is power politics as you claim it's revealing how it's Hindus, Buddhists and Christians who end up being murdered, raped or having their houses burned down.. Here is that beacon of liberalism known as the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21712655

Some say the minorities are attacked because they mostly support the governing Awami League party and are a soft target.

Bangladesh has long prided itself on its secular values - but that image has taken a knock following the recent violence.

Now in an ideal world I dare say the minorities would prefer a better deal, but as with Christians supporting Assad in Syria I believe they know what side their bread is buttered on. Incidentally a few months ago the Bangladesh government expelled some Saudi Imams, who were obviously preaching peace and tolerance, as they always do.

[simple1]

Good to see you are encouraged by a purported secular government in Bangladesh. Yes minorities have been attacked and discriminated against for years. Even the approximately 220,000 Muslim Rohingya refugees from Burma are denied human rights and discriminated against. In November 2010, Bangladesh suspended the UNHCR programme for resettlement of Rohingya abroad, and has since rebuffed strong appeals from the UNHCR to revoke the suspension.

In reference to discrimination against minorities, extrajudicial killings and so on carried out by the current government take a look at the following URL:

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/01/bangladesh-government-backtracks-rights

Regards the large decline in the Hindu population, it's hardly surprising given after the Bangladesh Liberation War it is estimated 10 million Hindus fled Bangladesh as well as ongoing persecution.