Five European Organizations Call for Action Against Politically Motivated Trials in Bangladesh
Five international organizations in Europe have condemned the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal against Sheikh Hasina. The organizations have called for global action to stop politically motivated trials in Bangladesh.
The organizations that signed the statement are: European Bangladesh Forum (EU & Great Britain), Earth Civilization Network (Global Network), Freedom and Justice Alliance (Global Platform), South Asia Democratic Forum (Belgium), and Working Group Bangladesh (Germany).
The coalition of international human rights and advocacy organizations based in London expressed deep concern and sent letters to the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the European Union External Action Service, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the International Bar Association, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the relevant UN Special Rapporteurs.
The coalition stated that the International Crimes Tribunal, established with the aim of prosecuting atrocities committed during the 1971 Liberation War, has deviated from its original principles. Conducting trials and handing down death sentences in the absence of the accused contradicts judicial independence and international human rights standards.
In the statement, the coalition listed its key concerns, including lack of constitutional legitimacy, undermining of judicial independence, rushed trial procedures, denial of the right to adequate legal representation, absence of the accused and their witnesses, and evidence of collusion.
