EU's double standards

Western leaders who never tire of lecturing countries like Russia and China on human rights uttered not a single word of condemnation over the execution of Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami chief, Motiur Rehman Nizami, and four others before him. Notably, the European Union is not only against death penalty terming it cruel, inhuman and useless as a deterrent to crime, but also claims to have been carrying out actions in support of individuals at risk of executions. But no such thing happened in the case of Nizami. Creditably for him, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has taken a strong, principled stand against BD government's execution of a political opponent, touching a chord with all right thinking people. His is the only country to have recalled - in a gesture of diplomatic protest - for consultations its ambassador to Bangladesh. In a televised speech the other day, President Erdogan aptly argued if Europe is against political executions why did it remain silent over Nizami's execution, posing the rhetorical questions "have you heard anything from Europe? ...no. Isn't it called double standards?" The answer of course is a resounding yes.

Everything about the proceedings leading to the execution lacked fairness and transparency. The JI chief, a prominent member of Bangladesh opposition, a former member of parliament and a cabinet minister in a previous government, was tried for alleged crimes committed during the 1971 events in the erstwhile East Pakistan. The Bangladesh government was obliged to show respect to the 1974 Tripartite Agreement under which it was obliged "not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemency". In going ahead with the trials the Sheikh Hasina government not only violated that agreement, the trial was a mockery of justice. Press reports speak of harassment of witnesses and lawyers representing the accused, while international rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have termed the trial deeply flawed. This was a clear case for Europe to demonstrate its abhorrence for death penalty and commitment to human rights.

It is worthwhile to note that Bangladesh has a partnership agreement with the EU that covers trade, economic development, good governance, as well as human rights. Listed among the Least Developed Country category, the country enjoys the most favourable regime under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences. That allows it duty-free access for its exports to EU markets. The EU could have used this solid leverage over the Dhaka government to refrain from subjecting its political opponents to persecution and the ultimate penalty of death. Unfortunately, it chose to do little as one by one five opposition leaders were led to the gallows following deeply defective trials. Considering the manner in which EU countries have been taking certain other nations to task for relatively milder maltreatment of dissidents, the Turkish President has rightly described Europe's silence over what has been happening in Bangladesh as double standards.