Turkey recalled its ambassador to Bangladesh for consultations after Motiur Rahman Nizami's execution. PHOTO: REUTERS
ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday lashed out at Europe’s silence over the execution of a veteran Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Bangladesh, accusing the West of “double standards.”
“If you are against political executions, why did you remain silent to the execution of Motiur Rahman Nizami who was martyred a couple of days ago,” Erdogan said in a televised speech in Istanbul.
“Have you heard anything from Europe? … No. Isn’t it called double standards?” Erdogan said.
Violation of 1974 accord: Pakistan vows to move UN on Bangladesh executions
Nizami, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged at a Dhaka jail late Tuesday. He was accused of ordering the killing of intellectuals during the 1971 conflict.
The 73-year-old former government minister was the fifth and the most senior opposition figure executed since the secular government in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation set up a controversial war crimes tribunal in 2010.
The 1971 conflict, one of the bloodiest in world history, led to the creation of an independent Bangladesh from what was then East Pakistan.
Prosecutors said Nizami was responsible for setting up the pro-Pakistani Al-Badr militia, which killed top writers, doctors and journalists in the most gruesome chapter of the war.
Pakistan summons Bangladesh envoy over Jamaat leader’s execution
The trial heard Nizami ordered the killings, designed to “intellectually cripple” the fledgling nation.
In protest, Turkey on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Bangladesh for consultations.
Since coming to power in 2002, Turkey’s ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) has sought to boost the country’s power in the Muslim world.
Last year, Erdogan condemned a death sentence handed to Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsi, who was a close ally of Ankara until he was overthrown by the military in 2013.
At the time he condemned the West for turning a blind eye to the “coup” by army chief army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who is now president.
Mr. Erdogan do not interfere internal matter of Bangladesh, as you are silent in the matter of Sheikh Nimr of KSA. Recommend
If it would have happened in Pakistan, then you will see news in all major European newspapers. Recommend
And our leaders will remain silent because it is in the interest of India. hats off to ErodganRecommend
ISIS is expanding under his watch and now this. This guys is insane.Recommend
WEST be like : “Did someone said something?”Recommend
@ Shahid Akram Pakistan executed ZAB,who was an ex PM,so better not to take a high moral ground.Recommend
Last year, Erdogan condemned a death sentence handed to Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsi, who was a close ally of Ankara until he was overthrown by the military in 2013.
Correction,
Mr Morsi was not a close ally of Mr Erdogan but the people in Tehrir square demanded a democracy similar to the kind in Turkey. Mr Morsi should not have retired the older consrvative militay chief of army and appointed Sissi who turned against Morsi once in power.
Rex MinorRecommend
You cannot expect anything better from a country responsible for Armenian Genocide.Recommend
South East Asia has it’s self-important clown in Pakistan and now in Turkey, Europe has it’s own clown!Recommend
How come Erdogan is silent when Saudi Arabia is executing Shias and Pakistanis?Recommend
This guy is ISIS’s defacto chief. He has turned Turkey into another Saudi Arabia and on the way to become another Syria very soonRecommend
@Rahul:
Why are people interfering with a head of state’s right to voice his concern over a political execution of an elected member of a “Democracy”Recommend
Mr Erdogan , what about Turkey’s silence over genocide of Armenians ? Recommend
@unbelievable: Find a new name – this one is taken.Recommend