War crimes
October 3, 2011
Delawar Hossain Sayedee, leader of Jamat-i-Islami, Bangladesh's largest Islamic party, has been indicted with 20 counts, including genocide, rape, arson and religious persecution during Bangladesh's nine-month war of independence with the then West Pakistan. Sayedee, who was known as "Deilla Razakar" during the period of war, has in particular been charged with involvement in the killing of 3,000 unarmed people. If proven guilty, Sayedee could face a death sentence. Sayedee has denied all charges against him.
Sayedee will be now be tried by the so-called International Crimes Tribunal, a domestic tribunal with no United Nations role, set up last year to investigate those accused of war crimes in 1971. The trial will commence on October 30.
Preparing the defense
The Bangladeshi government as well as several national and international human rights organizations claim that up to three million people were killed during the war, many by the then East Pakistan's Bengali Islamists allegedly supported by the West Pakistan's army and spy agencies. The Pakistan army and its intelligence agencies have also been accused of systematically torturing and murdering their opponents and civilians during the war.
On Monday, Sayedee's lawyer Tajul Islam criticized the procedure to frame the charges. "It is not possible for us to prepare defense in 27 days," he said.
Sayedee is the first person among the five Jamat-i-Islami leaders who has been indicted. Two people from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party are facing similar charges. He was arrested on July 30 last year. Jamat-i-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and JI's assistant secretary generals Mohammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Molla are also under arrest.
Islamabad's role
The indictment of Sayedee has been hailed by the Bangladeshi government and the civil society as historic. Most people in Bangladesh believe that the successive governments have taken too long to act against the perpetrators of violence and war criminals of the 1971 war. The latest decision of the special court has come over 40 years after the war.
Islamabad has always denied its role in the massacre of Bengalis during the Bangladesh war of independence. No government of Pakistan has formally apologized to Dhaka over the killings. Over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers had surrendered to Indian and Bengali troops during the war.
Author: Shamil Shams (AFP, AP)
Editor: Sarah Berning