The British Humanist Association has responded to news that Bangladeshi security forces have arrested three men - including a British citizen - over the murders of two bloggers by calling for them to face trial as soon as possible.
The BHA’s chief executive, Andrew Copson, issued a statement saying:
“If there is sound evidence that these individuals, including a Briton, are responsible for the brutal, mindless murders of Avijit [Roy] and Ananta [Bijoy Das] then they must face trial and justice without delay.
Humanists are living in a culture of fear and intimidation in Bangladesh, certain that more lives will be taken simply for expressing a view opposing the Islamists.”
According to Major Maksudul Alam of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), one of those arrested is Touhidur Rahman, a 58-year-old British citizen of Bangladeshi origin.
He is alleged to have been responsible for planning the murders of Roy and Das as a member of Ansarullah Bangla Team, a group banned in May over a series of killings of bloggers.
Roy and Das are among four secular bloggers murdered in Bangladesh since the start of the year. Roy, a US citizen born in Bangladesh, was hacked to death in February. Das was similarly killed in May.
Copson said: “The Bangladeshi government must do more to protect all its citizens from brutal fundamentalist thugs who would kill another human being for daring to think outside the confines of dogmatic religion.
“If it is true that a Briton is responsible, then it is clear that the UK government must also do more to combat any culture of impunity developing here for Islamists operating globally and visiting their violence on the humanist citizens of other states.”
But the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) has cautioned foreign journalists to be beware of disinformation about police claims in relation to the murders of the bloggers.
After Das’s killing, Human Rights Watch called on the Bangladeshi government to extend police protection to all those who appear on so-called atheist blogger hit-lists. HRW regards the murders as a negation of freedom of speech and press freedom.
Sources: The Guardian/BHA by email/IHEU/HRW
