ICT exonerates Jamaat lawyers

The first war crimes tribunal has accepted the unconditional apology of three Jamaat-e-Islami defence lawyers and exonerated them of contempt proceedings.

However, the three judge International Crimes Tribunal – 1, set up to deal with crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, warned Tajul Islam of strong action in case of recurrence of such an incident

Islam is member of the Jamaat-e-Islami’s core team of defence lawyers at the war crimes tribunals, where a number of leaders of the Islamist party face a variety of charges.

On Oct 22, he had walked out of the first tribunal without the customary bow showing his back to the judges even after the chairman had instructed him to remain seated.

The court had then issued a notice asking Tajul Islam to explain why action should not be taken for his misconduct.

On Nov 6, two more Jamaat defence lawyers, Mizanul Islam and Tanvir Ahmed Al-Amin, were issued a similar notice for a fracas in the courtroom. This time, given that a similar notice was pending against Tajul Islam, the first tribunal barred him from entering the court.

Top lawyers of the country, mostly those known for strong Opposition links, begged the tribunal’s forgiveness and offered unconditional apology on behalf of the three lawyers in both the cases.

The tribunal noted their submissions in its order on Tuesday and said it accepted the apology and exonerated the three defence lawyers .

The court also withdrew all restrictions on Tajul Islam but warned that further recurrence would result in “strict action in accordance with the law”.