THE LATEST ON SHOAIB’S TRIAL
From InterfaithStrengh.com:
“…Shoaib’s next court date was October 30. Shoaib and his attorney arrived, but the government witness did not. The government’s witness has failed to show for the trial repeatedly. In most societies, judicial standards would lead the court to order the prosecution to proceed without the absent witness; but not so in Bangladesh. The court simply continues the case without so much as an admonition or a directive to show at the appointed date or forfeit his testimony. To make matters worse, the case was continued to January 15, 2009!
This is extremely disturbing for several reasons and places in doubt government assurances of its desire to end the matter during its term. It has scheduled elections for December, which means that it has no intention of bringing the issue to an end. Thus far, the judge also has made it clear that the government has not produced a scintilla of credible evidence. Yet, the case continues to drain Shoaib of financial, emotional, and personal resources. At what point does the process itself become persecution of a dissident? …”