The much-awaited verdict of Ameer Ghulam Azam was delivered on Monday, leading to a strong reaction on social media, where doubts were voiced about whether there could have been other motivations behind the verdict.
The “leniency” of the Ghulam Azam verdict, the fairness of trial, and the consideration of Ghulam’s age, have been sparking debates online, while the country faces hartals – the usual fate that follows war crime trials and verdicts, in the context of Bangladesh.
Shahana Siddiqui, a development practitioner, tweeted: “Note to self: wait till 90 yrs old to get sued or commit crimes – age will save one from the gallows! #GolamAzam #drama #WTC”
“I wonder if those supporting the verdict of Ghulam Azam have studied history properly. Or believe in justice? Blinded by emotions. Apparently the backbone of Bangladesh. How can we ever progress?” Zara Kabir, a non-resident Bangladeshi posted on her Facebook page.
Shayan S Khan, a senior journalist, tweeted: “What must be acknowledged, at the end of the day, is Jamaat’s pre-eminence as a political force that manages to get what it wants. #ict”
Naheed Kamal, a journalist, posted on her Facebook page: “90 years because he is frail and old. But what if, no when, the evil partnership of BNP-Jamaat come to power? Then how long before this evil monster is out and about and not so frail after all and seeking vengeance on the nation and those of us opposed to them? Not too long methinks. Someone asked if I was willing to hang the cretin myself; yes I am more than willing to watch a few cretins hang on a short leash ... Because as long as these men live, they do more harm then they possibly could dead … For me the pros and cons of the death sentence have been debated and considered long ago … It is not a decision I came to easily as I have said before. And it wasn’t until Jahanara Imam rose to the occassion to demand justice that I was truly aware of the facts … and the insulting manner in which these men continued to flaunt their immunity in our/my face ... Until and unless we remove a large number of people from the current political scene … we really can’t move forward. We, or rather I speak for myself, want and need closure!”
On the other hand, many people from different walks of life have questioned the tribunal, as well as the government, for sentencing the former Jamaat patriarch for 90 years.
Nahian Bin Asadullah tweeted: “Why give a 90-year-old man a 90-year imprisonment? This is ridiculous to the nth degree #ICT #CrimesAgainstHumanity”
Talukder Shaheb, a self-proclaimed activist tweeted: “2,939 witnesses stood up for Ghulam Azam. Court narrowed it to 12. Tell me how the ICT is still fair #FreeGhulamAzam”
A tweet that created interest, posted from Pakistan Jamaat chief Syed Munawar Hasan’s official Twitter account said: "Its tragic to know that fake tribunal has sentenced Prof Ghulam Azam for 90 years in prison without any legitimate proof and reason."
Shahid Raza Burney, editor of an Indian magazine Aapla Saptah, posted on his Facebook page: “What a big joke. Does this makes any sense of the Bangaldesh courts to sentence a popular 90-year-old Islamist leader to 90 years prison. This is a big mockery. Can this person now 90 years live another 90 years?”
