Bangladesh: Polemic Around A Statue Of Justice Judged "Non-Islamic"

The controversial statue erected before the Supreme Court in Dhaka.

The government of Bangladesh on Friday (May 26th) dismantled a controversial statue representing Justice, accused by religious fundamentalists of representing a Greek goddess "  non-Islamic".

Work to dismantle the statue erected less than six months before the Supreme Court in Dhaka was supervised by his sculptor Mrinal Haque. "  It is a slap for all the progressives of this country," said the sculptor to dozens of lay activists protesting against dismantling. The installation of the statue of "Lady Justice" before the highest jurisdiction of the country has sown discord in this country with a Muslim majority. Islamists organized mass demonstrations to protest against what they see as a Greek goddess unworthy of Bangladesh.

The statue depicts a woman holding a scales and blindfolded. The Islamists demand that it be replaced by the Koran, although Bangladesh is endowed with a secular constitution. The First Minister Sheikh Hasina, who heads the secular Awami League party, seemed to support the Islamists when it recently criticized the work, described as "  ridiculous  ".

Strong Wahhabi influence

"  For my part, I do not like it. It is said to be a Greek statue. But how did a Greek statue land here?  "She said. According to analysts, the Prime Minister was trying to win the favors of the Islamists and the conservative rural electorate before the elections scheduled before the end of the year. Mrs. Hasina shocked the laity with her new positions.

Bangladesh has been slipping into rigorous Islam for several decades under the influence of a Wahhabism that is increasingly present in the country, far from the moderate version of Islam that has prevailed for generations. Atheist bloggers, foreigners and members of religious minorities have been murdered in recent years.