The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday initiated contempt of court proceedings against two top leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, for their joint media statement about a war crimes verdict.

The court also asked Abdul Jabbar and Atiqur Rahman, president and secretary general of Shibir, to explain in three weeks as to why they should not be punished for "making a derogatory statement" that "constitutes contempt of the tribunal".

The court exonerated three top leaders of Jamaat and a lawyer from the proceedings by issuing warning that they should be more careful and respectful in making comments over judicial matters and judges in future.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim with members Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Anwarul Haque fixed May 24 for further order in this regard.

On January 1, the prosecution brought contempt charges against the five leaders and the lawyer for separate statements following death sentence awarded to Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam on December 30 last year.

They all submitted their individual reply following an order of the tribunal issued on January 12.

Tajul Islam, who defended Jamaat leaders facing war crimes charges, was exonerated and given an opportunity to "rectify himself" as he apologised

unconditionally for his comment.

Jamaat acting ameer Maqbul Ahmad, acting secretary general Shafiqur Rahman and nayeb-e-ameer Mujibur Rahman were exempted from the charges as their statements did not attack the tribunal "directly".

But the tribunal began the contempt proceedings against the Shibir leaders as their joint statement, which was published in Daily Sangram on December 31 last year, "prima facie appears to be extremely derogatory to the independence and image of the tribunal..."

In the statement, the Shibir leaders said: "...Inconsistency was everywhere in the case [against Azhar). That judgement was not given on the basis of fair justice but on the reflection of speeches by the Awami League and their alliance, destructive agitators of Shahbagh.

"...If such trial continues as a weapon of an interested quarter to execute their political revenge, the public would have no other way but to give proper reply against such injustice, " said the statement.

Rejecting their reply, the court in its yesterday’s order said the content of the statement was a "serious threat intending to interfere and demean the lawful authority and the normal course of administration of justice of the tribunal”.

"Such remarks also prima facie touch the very credibility and majesty of the tribunal," it added.