Combating Religious Persecution – Bangladeshi Bloggers
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- Please email us with relevant news articles or petitions
PETITION: AKM Shahidul Hoque: Resign as the IGP of Bangladesh Police
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Italian man shot dead in Bangladesh capital
World | Mon Sep 28, 2015
An Italian citizen was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Bangladeshi capital on Monday, police said.
Cesare Tavella, who was aged around 50 and working at a Netherlands-based non-governmental organization, was gunned down in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone while on his evening walk, said Muntasirul Islam, spokesman for Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead, Islam added. No other details were immediately available.
An online statement in the name of the hardline Islamist group Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying his attackers followed him and shot him dead.
Bangladeshi secular activists remain defiant in face of death threats
Posted: Wed, 23 Sep 2015 16:19
Bangladeshi secular activists remain defiant in face of death threats
Secular writers are defiant after Bangladeshi Islamists stepped up their campaign of murders with a global death list.
The Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), who are behind a spate of murders carried out this year, have escalated their campaign of intimidation and violence against secularists by releasing a list targeting secular bloggers in Bangladesh and overseas for death.
Militant group publishes global hitlist of bloggers, activists and writers
Jason Burke in Delhi, Wednesday 23 September 2015
Nine UK-based bloggers on list published by Bangladesh group Ansarullah Bangla Team, who have been blamed for a series of murders
An Islamic militant group in Bangladesh has issued a hitlist of secular bloggers, writers and activists around the world, saying they will be killed if its demands are not met.
The list will raise fears that Islamic militant violence within the unstable south Asian country could take on an international dimension.
Atheist bloggers flee Bangladesh
Date 11.09.2015, Author Arafatul Islam
At least 12 bloggers have packed their bags and fled abroad in recent weeks. Others are preparing to follow suit and leave the Muslim-majority country. They are all ardent advocates of atheist standpoints in their blogs.
An atheist blogger from Bangladesh with ‘Imaginary Friends Show’ Podcast from Australia
by আরিফুর রহমান | Aug 28, 2015 | Podcasts, ব্লগ |
The Imaginary Friends Show, a popular podcast from Australia run by Jake Farr-Wharton, discussed Bangladeshi bloggers, their suffering, state terrorism and went in a bit detail to the history of the blogging movement in Bangladesh. It is a full hour discussion with Arif Rahman, Bangladeshi blogger in UK.
Interview with Secular Bangladeshi blogger Arifur Rahman
26 August 2015
Open letter urges arrest of ‘blogger-killers’
August 19, 2015, Star Online Report
Following a string of brutal “machete” murders of Bangladeshi bloggers, an open letter today calls upon the Bangladeshi government to stop “victim-blaming” the bloggers and focus on catching the extremists who are murdering them.
Global free speech campaigners protest against blogger killings in Bangladesh
News Desk, bdnews24.com, 2015-08-19
Hundreds of national and international free speech campaigners have united to protest against the string of brutal “machete” murders of bloggers and free thinkers in Bangladesh.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid they also took a serious exception to the administration’s response to the spate of killings.
They called upon the Bangladesh government to stop “victim-blaming” the bloggers, and instead focus on catching the extremists who were murdering them.
International protest against Bangladeshi blogger murders
By SNS On 19 Aug 2015
Bloggers, free speech campaigners, humanist associations, religious and ex-Muslim groups, all unite to protest Bangladeshi blogger murders
Following a string of brutal “machete” murders of Bangladeshi writers, all of whom had blogged about humanism, secularism, and atheist critiques of religion, a groundbreaking open letter today (Wednesday) calls on the Bangladeshi government to stop “victim-blaming” the bloggers, and instead focus on catching the extremists who are murdering them.
An Appeal from Muktomona to Keep Secular Bangladesh Safe from Religious Fundamentalism
By Mukto-Mona Editor|August 19th, 2015
Four Writers Killed in Six Months
With the first murder happening in February 2015, so far this year Bangladeshi Islamic fundamentalists have hacked to death four secular, humanist, atheist activist, bloggers and writers. On February 26, Mukto-Mona founder Avijit Roy was attacked from behind and murdered in the Dhaka University TSC area when he was on his way back from the Boi Mela; during the same attack his wife and fellow activist Mukto-Mona writer Bonya Ahmed was severely wounded. Following the murder, the Islamic fundamentalist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, and, later, Al Qaeda’s Indian branch (AQIS), released statements claiming responsibility. Although this vicious murder was strongly condemned nationally and internationally, the Bangladesh government, while claiming to be secular, not only refrained from denouncing the murder, it made no official response. In the same way, the law and order forces of Bangladesh have remained inactive and failed to identify and bring the murderers to justice. Thus, although five and a half months have passed since the murder, the killers remain out of reach.
Joint open letter to Prime Minister and President of Bangladesh
By IHEU Admin+ On 2015-08-18
To Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Abdul Hamid,
We, concerned members of the blogging and activist community of Bangladesh and internationally, along with representatives of human rights organisations and other civil society organisations and supporters, wish to protest in the strongest possible terms the institutional attack on Bangladeshi citizens who profess humanist, atheist or secularist views.
The dangers of blogging in Bangladesh
Al Jazeera English | 17 Aug 2015
Bangladesh police arrest two members of Islamist group over murder of secular blogger
Agence France-Presse, 14 AUG 201
Bangladesh police said Friday they have arrested two suspected members of a banned Islamist group over the brutal killing of an atheist blogger.
Niloy Chakrabarti was hacked to death at his home in Dhaka last Friday by a gang of men, the fourth such murder in Bangladesh this year.
Phantom of Death Haunts Bloggers-Part 5
Militants’ hit-list preserved with police
Pulack Ghatack, Thursday, 13 August, 2015
The list of the bloggers who are being killed one after another is well preserved with the law enforcing agencies since May 2013. Two Islamist organisations, Hefazat-e-Islam and Anjuman Al Bayyinat, formally handed over the lists of the “atheist bloggers” to the government.
Secular blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh
ROAD MAP 8/12/15 | Duration: 9:11
Bangladeshi blogger Niloy Neel was hacked to death in his home by suspected Islamist militants. What does this mean for the state of freedom of expression in Bangladesh? The Center for Inquiry’s Michael De Dora joins Ayman Mohyeldin to discuss.
Phantom Of Death Haunts Bloggers-Part 4
Scared bloggers fleeing country
Pulack Ghatack, Wednesday, 12 August, 2015
Bloggers and online activists are embracing the painful life of refugees leaving their homeland behind, as the spectre of death lurks in the shadow even in their bedrooms. Threats of arrest or prosecution have only added to their woes.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Sunday said it categorically that his forces would arrest the bloggers found involved in criticising religions.
Killing of Bangladeshi blogger Niloy Neel draws UN condemnation
UN News Centre, 8 August 2015
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as two independent United Nations human rights experts have condemned the killing of Niloy Neel, the fourth Bangladeshi blogger hacked to death so far this year, and called for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Ban, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, voiced his deep concern over these “gruesome” crimes and their impact on the exercise of freedom of expression in Bangladesh.
Don’t write anything that may hurt religious sentiment: IGP
09 Aug,2015, Dhaka, BdChronicle:
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Sunday urged bloggers to refrain from writing anything that may hurt the sentiment of any religious community.
He also urged the country’s people to take recourse to law instead of taking it into their own hands.
“We urge all to express their opinions with their good judgement and prudence. Please don’t cross the limit in the name of freedom of expression,” he said briefing reporters at the Police Headquarters.
Slain blogger Niloy Neel said on Facebook police advised him to flee Bangladesh when he sought security
Shahidul Islam, bdnews24.com, 2015-08-07 20:56:27.0 BdST Updated: 2015-08-08 16:58:30.0 BdST
A three-month-old Facebook post by blogger Niladri Chatterjee Niloy, hacked to death in his Dhaka home on Friday, said that the man knew he was a target.
He wanted to file a general diary (GD) but the police ‘advised him to leave the country as early as possible’ instead, said the post from May 15.
Don’t write anything that may hurt religious sentiment: IGP
Posted 8 August 2015, The News Today
Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Sunday urged bloggers to refrain from writing anything that may hurt the sentiment of any religious community, reports UNB. He also urged the country’s people to take recourse to law instead of taking it into their own hands. “We urge all to express their opinions with their good judgement and prudence. Please don’t cross the limit in the name of freedom of expression,” he said briefing reporters at the Police Headquarters. The police headquarters arranged the press briefing to inform people about law enforcers’ steps following the recent killings of three children and blogger Niladri Chattopadhyay Niloy. Blogger Niloy, who was residing at a rented flat on the 4th floor of a multi-storey building at Goran in the city, was hacked to death in the city’s Khilgaon area on Friday.
IGP suggests Bangladesh bloggers to not ‘cross the line’, not write blogs that may hurt religious sensitivities
Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com, 2015-08-09 20:43:21.0 BdST Updated: 2015-08-10 05:20:10.0 BdST
Two days after the murder of Niladri Chatterjee Niloy who said he was refused a complaint, the inspector general of police (IGP) has advised the bloggers not to write blogs that may hurt religious sentiments.
AKM Shahidul Hoque’s call comes at a time when police are drawing harsh criticisms over their failure to solve the cases of killings of four bloggers in six months this year.
Phantom Of Death Haunts Bloggers -Part-2
Complaint to police raises risk
Pulack Ghatack, Sunday, 9 August, 2015
Though the bloggers and online activists are getting death threats almost regularly and passing their days in extreme panic, they are hardly seeking police protection, which they said would increase the risk.
Phantom Of Death Haunts Bloggers-Part-1
Who is next target?
Pulack Ghatack, Saturday, 8 August, 2015
Phantom of death is haunting Bachchu Shahjahan -a poet, publisher and freethinker, who is used to criticizing popular beliefs and faiths through his Facebook posts.
He cannot sleep in his house and frequently changes hideouts to escape from the militants and fanatics who have issued numerous death threats against him through phone calls and messages.
Bangladesh secular blogger Niloy Neel hacked to death in his home in fourth targeted killing this year
Updated Sat, 8th August at 6:57am – ABC News Austraila
Attackers armed with machetes have killed another blogger in Bangladesh, the fourth killing of an online critic of religious extremism in the Muslim-majority country in less than six months.
Niloy Chakrabarti, 40, a blogger who advocated secularism and published under the name Niloy Neel, was killed in his flat in the capital, Dhaka, police official Mustafizur Rahman said.
Niloy Neel, fourth blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh this year
August 8, 2015, Ruma Paul
Dhaka: Attackers armed with machetes killed a blogger in Bangladesh on Friday, the fourth such killing of an online critic of religious extremism in six months, prompting calls by human rights groups for a swift and thorough investigation.
Why I blame Sheikh Hasina for Niloy Neel’s death
POLITICS | 2-minute read | 08-08-2015
Taslima NasreenTASLIMA NASREEN
The Bangladesh government has done nothing to save these important and urgent voices of reason.
Ansar-Al-Islam claims responsibility for Niladri murder
August 07, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 02:43 PM, August 08, 2015, Star Online Report
Ansar-Al-Islam, Bangladesh chapter of al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-Continent, has claimed responsibility for the killing of blogger Niladri Chattopadhyay terming him an enemy of Allah.
Bangladesh blogger killed by machete gang had asked for police protection
Friday 7 August 2015
Niloy Chakrabarti claimed officers ignored threats weeks before he was hacked to death in his Dhaka flat, the fourth such murder this year
The four Bangladeshi bloggers who have been killed this year: (clockwise from top left) Niloy Chakrabarti, Ananta Bijoy Das, Washiqur Rahman and Avijit Roy. Photograph: Guardian
A well-known secular blogger in Bangladesh who was murdered at his home on Friday had told police of threats against him and requested protection weeks before he died.
Niloy Chakrabarti, who used the pen name Niloy Neel, was hacked to death with machetes after a gang broke into his apartment in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka. He is the fourth blogger to have been killed in Bangladesh since February.
Niloy Neel – Fourth atheist activist murdered in a year in Bangladesh
By IHEU Admin, 2015-08-07
Niloy Chowdhury Neel, an online activist and secularist protester, has been found dead in his home, according to early reports. He was decapitated and his hands had been cut off. The four or five assailants had apparently gained access to his building by posing as a tenant, shortly after Juma prayers this afternoon.
‘Nowhere is safe’: Behind the Bangladesh blogger murders
By Mukul Devichand, Editor, BBC Trending, 7 August 2015
Bangladesh’s small community of online atheists is in shock after the murder of another blogger. Many are focussing on one detail of the latest killing – its location.
The men who hacked Niloy Neel to death with machetes seemed to be following a gory pattern that we have already seen three times this year.
Bangladesh: UN experts condemn killing of blogger Niloy Neel, a strong critic of extremism
GENEVA (7 August 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression, David Kaye, and on extrajudicial executions, Christof Heyns, have condemned today’s killing in Bangladesh of the blogger Niloy Neel, a supporter of free expression and opponent of fundamentalism of all kinds. Mr. Neel is the fourth Bangladeshi blogger hacked to death so far this year.
“The violent killing of another critical voice in Bangladesh shows that serious threats to freedom of expression persist in the country,” the experts said, calling for a prompt and thorough investigation. “It is vital to ensure the identification of those responsible for this and the previous horrendous crimes, as well as those who may have masterminded the attacks.”
A Fourth Atheist Blogger Has Been Hacked to Death in Bangladesh
August 7, 2015 by Hemant Mehta
For the fourth time since the beginning of the year, an atheist blogger has been killed in Bangladesh.
Following Dr. Avijit Roy in February, Washiqur Rahman in March, and Ananta Bijoy Das in May — and apparently a brief respite during Ramadan — tragedy struck again yesterday in Dhaka when 40-year-old Niloy Chatterjee, an organizer of Science and Rationalists’ Association of India, was assassinated.
Bangladeshi Blogger Hacked to Death
Newshour, Fri 7 Aug 2015, BBC WORLD SERVICE
Blogger hacked to death in Dhaka’s Gorhan
Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com, Published: 2015-08-07
Niladri Chatterjee Niloy is the fourth blogger to have been murdered this year after Avijit Roy, Oyasiqur Rahman Babu and Ananta Bijoy Das.
Suspected Islamist militants have hacked to death yet another secular blog activist inside his house in Bangladesh, barely three months after killing in broad daylight of a blogger in Sylhet.
Another blogger critical of Islam is found hacked to death in Bangladesh
WRITTEN BY Sasha Zients, August 07, 2015
Nilloy Neel, an openly secular and atheist blogger in Bangladesh, was hacked to death at his home in the capital city of Dhaka today (Aug. 7), according to authorities.
Bangladesh blogger Niloy Neel hacked to death in Dhaka
7 August 2015, BBC
Niloy Neel was an atheist from a Hindu background
A Bangladeshi blogger known for his atheist views has been hacked to death by a gang armed with machetes in the capital Dhaka, police say.
Niloy Neel was attacked at his home in the city’s Goran area.
He is the fourth secularist blogger to have been killed this year by suspected Islamist militants in Bangladesh.
“No Country For Secular Bloggers”: Niloy Neel is the Fourth Bangladeshi Blogger To Be Killed in 2015
Posted 7 August 2015 20:21 GMT
On Friday, August 7 at approximately 1:45pm, five assailants armed with machetes entered the flat of blogger Niloy Neel and killed him brutally. When his wife and sister attempted to save him, the attackers threatened to kill them too.
Support Bangladeshi Free-thinkers and Atheist Bloggers!
By Maryam Namazie Published: June 30, 2015
We are freelance writers from Bangladesh. Most of us have started our writings through blogging in 2006 and 2007 when a Bengali blog, called, ‘somewhereinblog’, was first founded. Somewhereinblog has appeared as a wonderful opportunity to express and share our experiences, daily diaries, our happiness and sorrows in our own language/terms. Initially we have used the space to read blogs, while some of us were sharing personal diaries, literary works i.e. poetry, short stories, travel blogs etc.
Atheist blogger Avijit Roy ‘was not just a person … he was a movement’
Oliver Laughland in New York and Saad Hammadi in Dhaka
Saturday 7 March 2015
The US citizen’s appearance at a book fair in Bangladesh was described by friends as a mistake, but he was undeterred by death threats
Avijit Roy’s friends had told him not to return to Bangladesh.
In an online chat last month with moderators of Mukto-Mona, the atheist website established by the 42-year-old almost 15 years ago, he was told that heading back to Dhaka was too dangerous.
Support Those Fighting Religious-Right and Jihadists in Bangladesh
March 1, 2015 by naridiganta
By Rumana Hashem
Nari Diganta is horrified and outraged by the brutal killing of Bangladeshi-born freethinker and humanist- writer, Avijit Roy. This is not the first time that we are shocked by watching how the fatal stabbing of humanists and freethinkers happens in Bangladesh.
Website: naridiganta.wordpress.com no longer exists. The article: ‘Spread the words of Avijit Roy’ is no longer available.
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