Principles of Presumption of innocence: what it means and why it matters
Written by HT AL-AMIN KHAN , Student, Department of Land Management and Law, Jagannath University, Dhaka. Introduction The presumption of innocence is one of the most important principles of criminal justice. It means that anyone who is accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. This principle protects the rights and dignity of the accused and ensures that they are treated fairly by the legal system. Origin The presumption of innocence has a long history in different legal traditions. It can be traced back to ancient Roman law, where it was expressed as "ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat" (the burden of proof lies on him who asserts, not on him who denies). It was also recognized in Jewish law, where it was said that "every man is innocent until proved guilty". In modern times, the presumption of innocence has been adopted by many countries that use common law or civil law systems. Implications The pre...
