DHAKA:
Thousands of supporters of a Bangladeshi Islamist group staged protests on Friday calling for the removal or destruction of a controversial
statue from the nation´s highest court.
The
statue of “lady justice” has ruffled feathers in the Muslim-majority nation, with
hardliners demonstrating in recent weeks
against what they say is a Greek god unbefitting Bangladesh.
Protesters want the
statue of the blindfolded woman holding scales -- said to represent justice -- destroyed and replaced with a Holy Qura'an, despite Bangladesh´s secular constitution.
Supporters of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) gathered after Friday prayers outside the country´s national mosque, Baitul Mukarram, in central Dhaka, chanting and wielding placards with slogans such as “Demolish the
statue on the court premises”.
“Nearly 10,000 protesters attended the rally. Security has been beefed up at the area,” local police chief Rafiqul Islam told AFP.
IAB spokesman Atiqur Rahman said they also wanted the removal of the country´s chief justice because of his “procrastination” in removing the statue. “We want the
statue of the Greek Goddess to be ******* immediately,” he said.
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