Several senators of Democratic Party, including pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s defender Dick Durbin, have publicly stood in defense of controversial Nobel Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
In a letter dated January 22, 2024, to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Senator Richard J. Durbin (Dick Durbin), Senator Todd Young, Senator Tin Kaine, Senator Dan Sullivan, Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley, Senator Edward J. Markey, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Peter Welch, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Ron Wyden, and Senator Cory A. Booker wrote:
“We write urging you to end to the persistent harassment of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and the pattern of abusing laws and the justice system to target critics of the government more broadly.
“For more than a decade, Professor Yunus has faced more than 150 unsubstantiated cases brought against him in Bangladesh. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have noted irregularities in proceedings against him, including the most recent six month prison sentencing for allegedly violating the country’s labor laws that is being appealed. These reputable organizations argue the speed and repeated use of criminal proceedings are indicative of politically motivated judicial abuses. Moreover, the repeated and sustained harassment of Yunus mirrors what many Bangladeshi civil society members also face in an increasingly restrictive environment.
“Yunus’ pioneering work on microfinance offered greater economic promise for many Bangladeshis and millions of impoverished people around the world. The United States Congress awarded him the Congressional Gold Medal in 2013, recognizing his pioneering contributions to the fight against global poverty.
“Such efforts should not be undermined over ongoing political vendettas, especially in a democratic nation of laws.
“The United States values its longstanding relationship with Bangladesh, which includes close bilateral and multilateral coordination on numerous common interests. Ending the harassment of Professor Yunus, and others exercising their freedom of speech to criticize the government, will help continue this important relationship.
“Thank you for your prompt consideration of this matter”.
It may be mentioned here that faces controversy related to flight logs belonging to the family of pedophile Jeffrey Epstein while he had criticized the US administration for locking Al Qaeda members at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
Muhammad Yunus is one of the front-ranking defenders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) which is affiliated with Al Qaeda.
Commenting on Muhammad Yunus, British newspaper The Daily Express in an opinion editorial has criticized the “unexpected radical Islamist support for” him stating it is “not just a domestic affair but signals a disconcerting trend that could have far-reaching implications”.
The Daily Express said:
This trend underscores the manipulation of public opinion and the narrative by opponents of the ruling party, predominantly radical Islamist factions, representing a perilous attempt to contaminate public discourse.
Such strategies, limited for now to distant shores, have the potential to be exported to other nations, including the UK, which is also on the cusp of significant political change.
In the socio-political fabric of Bangladesh, the legal predicaments of Dr. Muhammad Yunus reflect a wider, troubling pattern threatening democracies. Accused under the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006, Dr. Yunus’s conviction has sparked substantial outcry, notably from radical Islamist factions within the country.
These factions have framed the legal proceedings as politically motivated, portraying Dr. Yunus as a victim of government oppression, a narrative seemingly championing justice but in reality often furthering their own extremist agendas.
Dr. Yunus, once a symbol of innovative economic empowerment, along with his associates, faced severe legal repercussions that have significantly dented his once stellar reputation.
It further said, “If the political accusations held substantial truth, one might expect the charges and penalties against Dr. Yunus to be far more severe or ‘dramatic’.
“The relatively measured nature of the court’s verdict suggests that, contrary to the claims of some critics, justice may have been served without the undue influence of political machinations.
“Most striking of all has been the sheer dismissal of workers’ claims of wrong-doings, a reality one would assume, should have warranted calls for investigations, and not absolute rebuttal.
“Holding true to their propensity to invert realities, radical Islamic groups have exploited the situation to portray the court’s decision as politically motivated, seeking to bolster their agenda under the guise of defending the oppressed.
“This narrative, while local in its genesis, has implications that resonate far beyond Bangladesh’s borders”.
