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Jamaat demeans Islam
The Jamaat-e-Islami is demeaning Islam through its violent activities, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said yesterday.
You'd think that would be an obvious, universally accepted idea...
Islam is a religion of peace, which does not allow activities like attack, killing and damage, but Jamaat uses Islam in committing such acts, he said. The party has no right to do politics in Bangladesh.

The minister talked to reporters after attending the annual general meeting of Bangladesh Registration Service Association at the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh.

In a democracy, every body has the right to form and join political parties or organisations. But if any organisation is involved in extremism, destroys public properties and attacks law enforcers and media workers, it has no right to co-exist in the society or state, Shafique said.

Replying to a question, he said a writ petition challenging the legality of Jamaat's registration with the Election Commission was now pending with the High Court.

The High Court may dispose of the petition within two to three weeks, passing a directive on Jamaat's politics, the law minister said. And then would follow a decision to ban Jamaat.

Bangladesh Tariqat Federation filed the appeal in 2009, challenging the legality of the EC registering Jamaat as a political party in November 2008.

Following the petition, the HC issued a rule upon the EC and the Jamaat ameer and the secretary general, asking them to explain why the registration of Jamaat should not be cancelled.

Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman urged the government to take steps immediately to ban Jamaat, saying it is a terrorist organisation.

Jamaat and student body Islami Chhatra Shibir has taken an anti-state and anti-liberation stance, which was very clear from the Friday's countrywide mayhem, he said.

"They (Jamaat-Shibir) have defamed the state through burning the national flag and vandalising Shaheed Minars." All these acts are tantamount to sedition, Mizanur said.

The NHRC chief also called upon all the pro-liberation political parties to be united for fighting against the terrorist organisation.

Jamaat-Shibir killed intellectuals, tortured women and looted properties during the 1971 Liberation War and tried to justify them, using religious sentiments, Mizanur said.

"We have seen similar activities last Friday."

Now, the government has to make a bold political decision to resist Jamaat, the NHRC chief said.
Posted by: Steve White 2013-02-24
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=362899