Bangladesh: Conviction of journalist chills speech: HRW

The December 2 conviction of journalist David Bergman on contempt charges by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) further shrinks the narrowing space for observers to comment on the war crimes proceedings, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists said today. Bergman was sentenced to a symbolic “simple imprisonment till the rising of the court” and a fine of Taka 5,000 (about US$56) for comments he made in three separate blog postings regarding legal proceedings before the ICT, according to a HRW press release.

The ICT is a specially constituted court set up to bring to account those responsible for grave violations of international law during the country’s 1971 war of independence. Concerns over its statute, rules of procedure, and practices have been raised since its inception, including by international monitors and legal experts. “Rather than respecting the right to freedom of expression, the ICT has used contempt of court proceedings against some of its critics, and those who are convicted have no right of appeal,” said Richard Bennett, Asia-Pacific director at Amnesty International. “The conviction of Bergman sends a chilling message to journalists and human rights defenders that the ICT will not tolerate fair criticism.” Contempt charges have been selectively pursued against others who have offered critical comments on the court’s proceedings. In an apparent attempt to silence criticism, Human Rights Watch, journalists from The Economist, and local journalists have been tried for contempt for publishing material critical of some aspect or issue relating to the ICT.

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