Bangladesh Statue of Justice controversy is a controversy that surrounds the building of a statue of justice at the premises of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. The controversy centers on the statue's depiction of the Themis, the Greek goddess of divine law, wearing a sari. [1] Islamic groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and Bangladesh Awami Olama League consider the statue to be idolatry and have taken legal actions calling for its removal. [2] [3]
Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country with a legal system based on English common law. [4] [5] Bangladesh has seen rising tension between the religious hardliners and secularist supporters. [6] A statue of Justice was erected in the premises of the Bangladesh Supreme Court by the Government. [7] The Statue was that of Themis or Lady Justice, ancient Greek Titaness and the personification of Justice and the goddess of wisdom and good counsel. [8] [2] The Statue has blindfolds, is holding a sword, and wearing a Sari. The Sari is a local variation, the statue is usually wearing a gown. [9]
On 24 February 2017 thousands of Muslims protested in Dhaka against the statue. Supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam marched from the national mosque, Baitul Mukarram, after Friday prayers. [10] A similar rally was held at the same time in Chittagong, the second largest city in Bangladesh. [11] [12] Hefazat later submitted a petition to the Supreme Court to demolish it, which was supported by the Awami League affiliated Bangladesh Awami Olama League and an online news editor. [13] They called it conspiracy to undermine Islam in Bangladesh. [14]
Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister of Bangladesh supported calls to remove the Statue of justice in Bangladesh Supreme Court with some people saying the government was bowing down to the pressure of those who have used religion for political ends. [15]
The Supreme Court officials defended the statue as a symbol of Justice. [16] The Dhaka Tribune wrote an article defending the statue. [17] The Daily Star defended the statue and pointed out that only 7 percent of the Judges are female. [18] The Hellenic-Indian Society (ELINEPA) in Athens described the statue of Themis as a symbol of justice and secularism in Bangladesh. [19]
On 26 May, the Lady Justice statue was completely removed at 2am after a court decision and taken away by a truck at around 4am. [20] [21] [22] Two days later, the statue was reinstalled in place a few hundred meters from its original location. [23]
The order was given from the Supreme Court, and the difference was stated to be one where the statue was on display (initial location) and one where it was inside and therefore not 'on focus'. [24]
Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was a Bangladeshi Islamist, convicted war criminal, public speaker, and politician, who served as a Member of Parliament representing the Pirojpur-1, Barisal, constituency from 1996 to 2006.
The Islami Oikya Jote is a political party in Bangladesh and allied with the former Four Party Alliance.
Lady Justice is an allegorical personification of the moral force in judicial systems. Her attributes are scales, a sword and sometimes a blindfold. She often appears as a pair with Prudentia.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, previously known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, or Jamaat for short, is the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh. On 1 August 2013, the Bangladesh Supreme Court cancelled the registration of the Jamaat-e-Islami, ruling that the party is unfit to contest national elections.
Faḍl al-Ḥaqq ibn Wājid ad-Dīn al-Amīnī, or simply Fazlul Hoque Amini was an Islamic scholar and politician from Bangladesh. He served as an MP in the Parliament of Bangladesh from 2002 to 2007. He was an expert in the fields of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), hadith and tasawwuf. He also held a number of positions on the boards of qaumi madrasahs. He was also the principal of Jamia Qurania Arabia Lalbagh in Lalbagh, Dhaka, one of the largest Deobandi Islamic schools of Bangladesh.
Shah Ahmad Shafi was a Bangladeshi Sunni Islamic scholar, the chief of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Rector of Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam Hathazari and also the chairman of Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Education Board. He was born in 1930 in Rangunia, Chittagong and was educated at Hathazari Madrasah and Darul Uloom Deoband.
Abdul Quader Mollah was a Bangladeshi Islamist leader, writer, and politician of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, who was convicted of war crimes and sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh (ICT) set up by the government of Bangladesh and hanged. There were objections from the United Nations, the governments of several countries, including Turkey, and international human rights organizations but there was widespread support from the general public of Bangladesh for the execution.
On 5 February 2013, protests began in Shahbag, Bangladesh, following demands for the execution of Abdul Quader Mollah, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment and convicted on five of six counts of war crimes by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh. Later demands included banning the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party from politics including election and a boycott of institutions supporting the party.
2013 Bangladesh violence refers to the political instability, increase in crime and widespread attacks of minorities and opposition activists.
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh is a far-right Islamic advocacy group of madrassah teachers and students. In 2013, it submitted to the government of Bangladesh a 13-point charter, which included the demand for the enactment of a blasphemy law.
The Shapla Square protests also known as Operation Shapla or Operation Flash Out by security forces refers to the protests, and subsequent shootings, of 5 and 6 May 2013 at Shapla Square located in the Motijheel district, the main financial area of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The protests were organized by the Islamist pressure group, Hefazat-e Islam, who were demanding the enactment of a blasphemy law. The government responded to the protests by cracking down on the protesters using a combined force drawn from the police, Rapid Action Battalion and paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh to drive the protesters out of Shapla Square.
Irreligion in Bangladesh is rare and uncommon publicly. A Gallup survey conducted between 2014 - 2015 found that approximately less than 1% of Bangladeshis identified as convinced atheists as all the respondents reported as having or believing in a religion. Bangladesh has 166.3 million people as of 2021 estimation.
Nadia Sharmeen is a Bangladeshi journalist. In 2015, she won the US State Department's International Women of Courage Award.
Bangladesh Awami Olama League is a religious organization of Bangladesh that claims affiliation with the ruling Bangladesh Awami League. Although the Bangladesh Awami League denies any relationship, critics argue it uses platforms such as the Olama League for its own political benefits.
Muḥammad Junaid, popularly known as Junaid Babunagari, was a Bangladeshi Deobandi Islamic scholar, educator, writer, researcher, Islamic speaker and spiritual figure. He was the Amir of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, Shaykhul Hadith of Darul Uloom Hathazari Madrasa, vice-president of Befaqul Madarisil Arabia Bangladesh, Chairman of Chittagong Noorani Talimul Quran Board and Editor-in-Chief of Monthly Mueenul Islam.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh is a Bangladeshi Islamist Party registered with Bangladesh Election Commission. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh was a member of the Islamist 20-Party alliance. It was a member of Islami Oikya Jote and which it left in 2008.
Maʾmūn al-Ḥaqq ibn ʿAzīz al-Ḥaqq ibn Irshād ʿAlī ad-Dākawī, or simply Mamunul Haque,
A series of rallies, demonstrations, and blockades opposing the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were held in Bangladesh from 19 to 29 March, on the celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan. Accusing Narendra Modi of committing crimes against humanity during the 2002 Gujarat riots, the protesters agitated against what they alleged were India's anti-Muslim policies and India's interference in Bangladeshi politics. Protesters demanded the cancellation of the Bangladesh government's invitation to the Indian Prime Minister. The otherwise peaceful protests turned violent when the protesters were attacked by the supporters of the ruling Awami League party along with a crackdown by the law-enforcement agencies, causing the deaths of several protesters throughout the last week of March 2021 in Bangladesh. Initially launched by progressive student organizations including the Bangladesh Students Union, Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad, and the Socialist Students' Front, the demonstrations were later joined by the Islamic group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
International Majlis-e Tahaffuz-e-Khatm-e Nobuwat Bangladesh is a right wing Islamist organization in Bangladesh that seeks to ban Ahmadiyya faith in the country.
Khatme Nabuwat Andolon Bangladesh (KNAB) Islamic extremist organization that has positioned itself as an Anti-Ahmadiyya group in Bangladesh. They have campaigned for to seize Ahmadiyya mosques and have the Government of Bangladesh declare Ahmadiyya non-Muslims. They have attacked the homes and mosques of the Ahmadiyya community in Bangladesh. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom described them as "a group of anti-Ahmadi Islamic clerics" International Religious Freedom Report in 2005.