Dhaka Archbishop on opposition to death penalty and fears about political violence
(Vatican Radio) In Bangladesh, a leading member of the opposition Jamaat-e-Islamic
party has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity by the nation’s war
crimes tribunal. Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was charged with torture and mass murder during
the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Bangladesh has been rocked by violent
street protests in recent months related to the complex legacy of the country’s independence
war and this verdict has aroused fears of fresh violence.
The Catholic Archbishop
of Dhaka Patrick D’ Rozario and other Christian leaders issued a joint statement earlier
this week appealing for peace, religious tolerance and greater respect for the welfare
of the common people. Susy Hodges interviewed Archbishop D’Rozario and began by asking
for his reaction to the handing down of the death penalty.
Listen to the
extended interview with Archbishop D'Rozario:
The Archbishop
says the Catholic Church is always "against the death penalty ... " and the destroying
of a life" and therefore its preference would have been for the court to choose the
option of life imprisonment for the convicted man.
Asked about the recent
violent street protests by hardline Islamic supporters and his feelings about this
violence, Archbishop D'Rozario says they are "very shocked ... and really troubled
by what is going on" as these violent protests and counter-protests do not represent
"the real picture of Bangladesh." He notes that people in Bangladesh have largely
"been living in harmony and peace for a long long time" and in his view the two main
reasons for this upsurge of violence are the emotions stirred up by the war crimes
tribunal and the upcoming elections. Archbishop D'Rozario expresses his regret that
"political parties in the nation try to use religion" (for their own ends). "They
are not really concerned about the welfare of the common people", he says.