I don't find the bans wrong. What I find wrong is the mentality of "they were banned indefinitely, so there must be some very solid reason for it". That's not how it should work. One might assume that you ought to present a solid reason for a solid ban, and present it before everyone. Transparency is the word isn't it? And not leave the community hit their heads against the wall trying to figure out why was that decision taken.
The bans were perhaps justified, but the way they were handled was what caused this whole all out outcry in the first place.