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| Bangladesh |
| Kamaruzzaman indicted |
| 2012-06-05 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Jamaat-e-Islami ... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman has been charged with murder and torture of unarmed civilians and complicity in other crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. After framing seven specific charges against him yesterday, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 fixed July 2 for the beginning of the trial. The charges are based on seven separate incidents of crimes against humanity that left at least 183 unarmed people dead and some women raped. Born in Sherpur on July 4, 1952, Kamaruzzaman was president of Islami Chhatra Sangha in greater Mymensingh in 1971. The pro-Jamaat student body was later renamed Islami Chhatra Shibir ... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh... ICS members formed AL Badr to collaborate with the Pak military that committed genocide and mass killing during the war, according to historical records. The war that ended with the birth of a new nation after nine months saw at least three million people killed and over two lakh women raped. During the charge framing yesterday, Tribunal-2 said Kamaruzzaman had played the key role in the formation of Al Badr with selected students of Ashek Mahmud Collage in Jamalpur. All of them belonged to ICS. Under his leadership, all members of ICS of greater Mymensingh were recruited in Al Badr, the court said while presenting a brief profile of the accused. On receiving summary training, they started committing atrocities targeting the Hindu community and unarmed Bangalee civilians in Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Sherpur, Jamalpur and Mymensingh. "He [Kamaruzzaman] allegedly being in close association with Mighty Pak Army, actively aided, abetted, facilitated and substantially contributed in committing dreadful atrocities during the War of Liberation in 1971 in the territory of Bangladesh," it said. Now senior assistant secretary general of his party, the Jamaat leader has also been charged with complicity in and failing to prevent such crimes. Six of the seven charges were for his involvement in crimes, including murder, torture, abduction and confinement. One charge related to his "inhuman acts" against Syed Abdul Hannan, the then principal of Sherpur College, in 1971. "During the period of the War of Liberation, on an afternoon in mid-May, you [Kamaruzzaman], being the chief organiser of Al-Badr Bahini as well as leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha or member of a group of individuals, and your accomplices caused inhuman acts to distinguished pro-liberation intellectual Syed Abdul Hannan, the then Principal of Sherpur College, by compelling him to walk through the town, making him almost undressed and by constant whipping, as he was a gallant supporter of the War of Liberation," the court told the accused. "Therefore, you, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, are being charged with participating in and substantially facilitating and contributing to the commission of offence of 'inhuman acts as crime against humanity' caused to Syed Abdul Hannan." |
| Posted by:Fred |