90 years for a 90-year old

Jamaat defence lawyers are bitter about party ideologue Ghulam Azam’s conviction, saying it was based on mere ‘suspicion’.

Tanim Ahmedbdnews24.com
Published : 15 July 2013, 08:44 AM
Updated : 15 July 2013, 08:45 AM

“It is a black day for law,” Azam’s chief counsel and a party Assistant General Secretary Abdur Razzaq told journalists.
“In the eyes of law, this is not a judgement at all,” he claimed.

“90 years for a 90-year old,” said the senior counsel, beginning his press briefing after the verdict.

Razzaq said the prosecution had failed to prove any of the charges levelled against Azam.

Regarding the first charge – conspiracy – he said there were references to Azam meeting key Pakistani officials at the initial stages of the Liberation War. “But holding meetings does not amount to a crime against humanity.”
He said the prosecution had merely placed press clippings to show such meetings had indeed taken place. “The definition of crimes against humanity will change if he is convicted on the basis of such evidence.”
About the fifth charge accusing Azam of murder for having failed to prevent the execution of 38 people in Brahmanbaria, Razzaq said the prosecution was again on flimsy ground.
He debunked the prosecution claim that Azam had sent a letter to the Brahmanbaria jail authorities, saying: “The letter was produced, but the courier was not here, nor was the reader.”
As for the 51 counts of incitement and complicity, the defence counsel said the prosecution had, again, garnered nothing beyond press clippings.
He said the press had covered over 50 of Azam’s speeches and briefings but the prosecution failed show any instance where they had provoked crime.
Acknowledging Azam’s strong pro-Pakistan stance during the Liberation War, Razzaq said one’s political position was not synonymous with involvement in war crimes. “It is a fine line that many have trouble distinguishing.”
Regarding the court’s observation about Jamaat-e-Islami’s ‘foul role’ during Bangladesh’s independence, Razzaq said, “This is entirely beyond the court’s jurisdiction.”
He said a fresh case could be filed against the Jamaat on that count but in this trial the court dealt with a different matter.
Even Jamaat’s role during the Liberation War was ‘entirely beyond’ the court’s jurisdiction, Razzaq maintained.