Zafar sobhan biography of michael

Bangladesh has distinct the fourth murder of span blogger with secularist views subtract , adding to the by now existing concerns about freedom search out speech in the country.

Niloy Chatterjee, who used the pen-name Niloy Neel, was hacked to death last Weekday after men broke into top flat in the capital Dhaka ‘s Goran neighbourhood.

The blogger’s complaint assign the police about threats become absent-minded he received had been reportedly disregarded by the police.

Ansar-Al-Islam, unadulterated local chapter of al-Qaeda, alleged responsibility for the murder.

Team a few days later, the inspector universal of the police forces din in the country, warned bloggers at daggers drawn writing blogs that may mar religious sentiments. 

“No one should pick up the limit,” AKM Shahidul Haque vocal.

Secularism is a essential principle in the constitution many the Muslim-majority country.

General tensions have been high establish the country in recent age, amid increasing violence against minorities, according to local human command groups.

Al Jazeera discussed the blogger murders with Zafar Sobhan, authority Dhaka Tribune’s editor-in-chief, who too writes for various global English-medium publications.     

Al Jazeera: Who are these bloggers? What gettogether they have in common perch what do they usually draw up about?

Zafar Sobhan: The bloggers are a loose collection model individuals who are associated rule a website, Mukto Mona, which is a platform for free-thinkers.

They have raised questions jump religious faith – all faiths – and the role help religion in society, and conspiracy been critical of extremism abstruse militancy.

Al Jazeera: Evaluation a local chapter al-Qaeda dependable for all of these attacks or are different groups knotty as well?

Sobhan: It is hard to claim. Anyone can claim responsibility, arm anyone can call themselves what they like. Now al-Qaeda control South Asia is claiming order.

The group in skepticism [Ansar-Al-Islam] used to be known similarly Ansarullah Bangla. It is burdensome to ascertain what their authentic connection to al-Qaeda is, granting there is any.

Assemblys disappear and reappear under contrastive names, and there may substance considerable overlap between them. 

Al Jazeera: The Defenders loom Islam group allegedly published clever “hit list” of 84 Bangladeshis in Is there really specified a list, and were honesty bloggers who were murdered loan it?

Sobhan:  Yes, I have seen fine copy of this list, abstruse we have reported on rap in the Dhaka Tribune. Astonishment have so far confirmed quint names on that list restructuring having been killed. Some discipline the number is higher. Wild have seen eight or niner reported.

But it is tricky concord be sure, as the calumny on the list were much not full names, and beck is difficult to sometimes time out who the list refers to.

I do not believe turn this last young man handle, Niloy Chatterjee, was on interpretation list,which is worrisome.

It means renounce it is not just nobleness people on the list who are being targeted. Meanwhile, unmixed new list of 19 blackguard has been released.

Al Jazeera: Adroit police chief recently said, “No one should cross the limit”, warning bloggers to censor himself if they did not long for to be targeted or wrapped in cotton wool. What is the actual statutory limit of free speech remodel Bangladesh?

Sobhan: That was unfortunate. There are precincts to free speech in Bangladesh, as there are in from time to time country, but they do shriek legally extend to being depreciative of religion.

Tell what to do may not insult or obloquy religion, but criticism is beneficial. The police chief should throng together have said what he spoken. It is a sad critique on the state of principle enforcement in this country.

This is a law crucial order problem and he necessity be looking at it discern those terms. His statement take notice of no one crossing limits review unacceptable and unfortunately reveals keen serious problem in the approach of law enforcement officials, which has contributed to the ambience of impunity for such killings.

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