Executions won’t hit ties

Turkish envoy on war crimes trial

Devrim Ozturk, ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Bangladesh, said yesterday that the execution of war criminals would not hamper relations between the two countries. The Turkish ambassador also said that his government has no intention to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, including the execution of Liberation War criminals. He, however, stated that his government believes that capital punishment cannot be a social reconciliation. Ozturk made this statement at a press conference on the failed coup attempt of Fetullah Terrorist Organization at Westin Hotel in Dhaka. In May, Turkey had reacted strongly to the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami for mass murder, rape and massacre of Bengali intellectuals during the Bangladesh War of Independence. On May 11, Turkey's foreign ministry issued a statement, saying that it "did not believe that Nizami deserved such a punishment".
Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan had also condemned Nizami’s punishment, saying that “such proliferation of hatred” went against “democratic mentality”, according to the local media. In the aftermath of the hanging, Ozturk had been called back to Turkey for consultation. “We don’t have any desire to interfere in the internal matters of Bangladesh, including the trial of war criminals. Turkey has abolished capital punishment. As a friendly country, we’ve just voiced our position about the abolition of execution. We think capital punishment is not a social reconciliation,” said the Turkish ambassador. In reply to a query, Ozturk said, “We’re always with the people of Bangladesh. We don’t think the execution of war criminals will hamper the relationship between the two countries.” Replying to a query about showing
sympathy to the Jamaat-e-Islami, Ozturk said, “We don’t make any discrimination among the political parties. We maintain relations with all parties.”
About three Turkish officials who were working in their embassy in Dhaka and who were allegedly involved in the failed coup in Turkey, the Turkish ambassador said, “Allegations were raised against around 300 diplomats around the world. They are suspected to have been involved in the abortive coup in Turkey. Of the three suspected officials working in Bangladesh, a couple first went to Turkey but later left for another country. The third one was reported to have reached Ankara.”

Executions wont hit ties

Turkish envoy on war crimes trial

Devrim Ozturk, ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Bangladesh, said yesterday that the execution of war criminals would not hamper relations between the two countries. The Turkish ambassador also said that his government has no intention to interfere in the internal affairs of Bangladesh, including the execution of Liberation War criminals. He, however, stated that his government believes that capital punishment cannot be a social reconciliation. Ozturk made this statement at a press conference on the failed coup attempt of Fetullah Terrorist Organization at Westin Hotel in Dhaka. In May, Turkey had reacted strongly to the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Motiur Rahman Nizami for mass murder, rape and massacre of Bengali intellectuals during the Bangladesh War of Independence. On May 11, Turkeys foreign ministry issued a statement, saying that it did not believe that Nizami deserved such a punishment. Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan had also condemned Nizamis punishment, saying that such proliferation of hatred went against democratic mentality, according to the local media. In the aftermath of the hanging, Ozturk had been called back to Turkey for consultation. We dont have any desire to interfere in the internal matters of Bangladesh, including the trial of war criminals. Turkey has abolished capital punishment. As a friendly country, weve just voiced our position about the abolition of execution. We think capital punishment is not a social reconciliation, said the Turkish ambassador. In reply to a query, Ozturk said, Were always with the people of Bangladesh. We dont think the execution of war criminals will hamper the relationship between the two countries. Replying to a query about showing sympathy to the Jamaat-e-Islami, Ozturk said, We dont make any discrimination among the political parties. We maintain relations with all parties. About three Turkish officials who were working in their embassy in Dhaka and who were allegedly involved in the failed coup in Turkey, the Turkish ambassador said, Allegations were raised against around 300 diplomats around the world. They are suspected to have been involved in the abortive coup in Turkey. Of the three suspected officials working in Bangladesh, a couple first went to Turkey but later left for another country. The third one was reported to have reached Ankara.