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| Bangladesh |
| Ban Jamaat right away |
| 2013-03-31 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Three organizations that have long been campaigning for war crimes trial yesterday demanded an immediate ban on 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... and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir ... the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh... Sector Commanders Forum, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee made the demand at a joint presser at the Liberation War Museum in the capital. Describing Jamaat-Shibir as terrorist organizations, they also demanded the government file sedition cases against the "militant force that carries out aggression, atrocities and terrorism against the state". Reading out a statement, Sector Commanders Forum acting secretary general Haroon Habib said local government bodies in many places were inactive when the religious fanatics launched attacks on the Hindus. The government will have to ensure security for the minority communities and punish the attackers, he added. The other demands of the three organizations include increase in the manpower for the war crimes tribunals, security for witnesses and their families, and permission for all pro-liberation organizations including Gonojagoron Mancha to hold programmes across the country. Addressing the presser, Forum Chairman Air Vice Marshal (retd) AK Khandker urged people to unite in resistance to Jamaat-Shibir. Replying to a question, Nirmul Committee acting president Shahriar Kabir said, "The time is not ripe yet for issuing any ultimatum to the government to ban Jamaat-Shibir. We are now just pressing our demand. But we can say that we will go to the next election after having Jamaat banned." Referring to the April 6 long march called by Hefazate Islam, a Qawmi madrasa-based organization, he said if the government allowed the programme to go ahead, it would prove to be the "last nail on the coffin of our Liberation War". Sangskritik Jote President Nasir Uddin Yousuff Bachchu said concerted efforts by the people and the government were a must to resist the fundamentalists. |
| Posted by:Fred |