Humanists International calls on the Bangladesh government to drop all charges against Asad Noor. The blogger was convicted of blasphemy on September 11th, 2018, and was detained by the Bangladeshi government. He has since been released on bail but his passport has been impounded. While the case continues, humanists are calling on the authorities to do the right thing and stop the persecution of Noor.
The case is a sad development, but a sad one nonetheless. Initially detained in December 2017, Noor reportedly received death threats from religious fanatics for his writings, prompting a lawsuit by the country's Islamic clergy. After a month-long jail term, Noor was released on bail but detained again by the military intelligence agency in January. After his release, he decided to leave Bangladesh and remain in India, where he is a prominent blogger. However, he continues to receive frequent death threats from Islamic fundamentalists.
The PEN America organization issued a statement regarding Asad Noor's arrest and continued detention. The group calls on the government of Bangladesh to drop all charges against Noor, free him, and ensure his safety. The government of Bangladesh should not stop protecting Asad Noor. The PEN community is working to protect the rights of Asad Noor. There is no other country that aims to suppress free speech like the people of Bangladesh.
