Monday, 25 November, 2024
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has defended his party's controversial stance during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War while expressing support for prosecuting those involved in crimes against humanity during that time. Speaking at a "Meet the Press" event in East London on Wednesday, Rahman acknowledged Jamaat's support for a united Pakistan but argued that its political stance was not criminal.
"Yes, Jamaat-e-Islami supported one Pakistan. It was not a crime in politics; at that time, East Pakistan was part of Pakistan," Rahman said. However, he stressed that crimes such as murder, arson, looting, or assaults on human dignity must be addressed through justice.
Rahman highlighted the turmoil faced by Jamaat members during and after the war, noting the displacement and lack of safe refuge for many. He compared the plight of his party members to that of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, a prominent political figure who fled to India but had to return due to threats to his life.
"Maulana Bhashani, a key part of Bangladesh's politics, went to India to fight but could not stay there long because his life was at risk," Rahman explained, adding that the war left no viable options for those unable to seek asylum.
Rahman also criticised India’s role, suggesting that its refusal to facilitate unity among East Pakistanis contributed to the country's division. "If India had opened its arms to us, the nation could have stayed united," he said, adding that Jamaat, like others who could not flee to India, aligned with Pakistan out of necessity.
The Jamaat leader criticised Pakistan’s leadership during the 1971 crisis, accusing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Yahya Khan of failing to resolve tensions peacefully. "The conflict was forced upon the people of East Pakistan due to the intransigence of Pakistan's political leaders," Rahman said, arguing that war became the only path for the people of Bangladesh to achieve independence.
Questioning War Crimes Trials
Rahman questioned the legitimacy of the ongoing war crimes trials, suggesting that the cases were politically motivated. He noted that under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's government, 42,000 cases were filed against collaborators, yet no senior Jamaat leaders were named at the time. He pointed out that AKM Yusuf, a Jamaat leader sentenced under the 1972 Collaborator's Order, was later released under a general pardon.
Rahman argued that the focus on Jamaat decades later stemmed from the party's political alliance with the BNP. "The timing of these trials raises questions, as they began 42 years after the war when Jamaat had a minor share of power through its BNP alliance," he said.
Several top Jamaat leaders, including Abdul Quader Molla, Motiur Rahman Nizami, and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, have been convicted of crimes against humanity by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The tribunal found Jamaat complicit in aiding the Pakistani army through auxiliary forces like the Razakars, which engaged in killings, loot, arson, deportations, and rape during the Liberation War.
Rahman acknowledged the convictions but maintained that Jamaat has been disproportionately targeted, claiming other political groups avoided similar scrutiny due to their lack of prominence. "Jamaat has remained the subject of attention because it is seen as a threat, unlike other parties whose political stances were insignificant," he said.
The Jamaat chief concluded by reiterating his support for justice, stating that any proven crimes must be addressed, regardless of political affiliations.
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Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has defended his party's controversial stance during Bangladesh's 1971 Liberation War while expressing support for prosecuting those involved in crimes against humanity during that time. Speaking at a "Meet the Press" event in East London on Wednesday, Rahman acknowledged Jamaat's support for a united Pakistan but argued that its political stance was not criminal.
"Yes, Jamaat-e-Islami supported one Pakistan. It was not a crime in politics; at that time, East Pakistan was part of Pakistan," Rahman said. However, he stressed that crimes such as murder, arson, looting, or assaults on human dignity must be addressed through justice.
Rahman highlighted the turmoil faced by Jamaat members during and after the war, noting the displacement and lack of safe refuge for many. He compared the plight of his party members to that of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, a prominent political figure who fled to India but had to return due to threats to his life.
"Maulana Bhashani, a key part of Bangladesh's politics, went to India to fight but could not stay there long because his life was at risk," Rahman explained, adding that the war left no viable options for those unable to seek asylum.
Rahman also criticised India’s role, suggesting that its refusal to facilitate unity among East Pakistanis contributed to the country's division. "If India had opened its arms to us, the nation could have stayed united," he said, adding that Jamaat, like others who could not flee to India, aligned with Pakistan out of necessity.
The Jamaat leader criticised Pakistan’s leadership during the 1971 crisis, accusing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Yahya Khan of failing to resolve tensions peacefully. "The conflict was forced upon the people of East Pakistan due to the intransigence of Pakistan's political leaders," Rahman said, arguing that war became the only path for the people of Bangladesh to achieve independence.
Questioning War Crimes Trials
Rahman questioned the legitimacy of the ongoing war crimes trials, suggesting that the cases were politically motivated. He noted that under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's government, 42,000 cases were filed against collaborators, yet no senior Jamaat leaders were named at the time. He pointed out that AKM Yusuf, a Jamaat leader sentenced under the 1972 Collaborator's Order, was later released under a general pardon.
Rahman argued that the focus on Jamaat decades later stemmed from the party's political alliance with the BNP. "The timing of these trials raises questions, as they began 42 years after the war when Jamaat had a minor share of power through its BNP alliance," he said.
Several top Jamaat leaders, including Abdul Quader Molla, Motiur Rahman Nizami, and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, have been convicted of crimes against humanity by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). The tribunal found Jamaat complicit in aiding the Pakistani army through auxiliary forces like the Razakars, which engaged in killings, loot, arson, deportations, and rape during the Liberation War.
Rahman acknowledged the convictions but maintained that Jamaat has been disproportionately targeted, claiming other political groups avoided similar scrutiny due to their lack of prominence. "Jamaat has remained the subject of attention because it is seen as a threat, unlike other parties whose political stances were insignificant," he said.
The Jamaat chief concluded by reiterating his support for justice, stating that any proven crimes must be addressed, regardless of political affiliations.
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