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Taslima appeals to world govts.


(WiPC/IFEX) — The Bangladesh Janakantha daily newspaper writes that during a press conference held in Dhaka on Monday 5 October 1998, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad told journalists that the case of Taslima Nasrin "should be considered from an humanitarian angle." He went on to say, "On the one hand, the religious sentiment of the people should be respected, but we cannot allow any excesses in the name of religion."

Date: 02–10–1998: The Bangladesh writer, Ms. Taslima Nasreen, has appealed to democratic governments of the world to request the Bangladesh government to drop the case and allow her to leave the country. In a letter to Amnesty International, a copy of which was faxed to the press, she wrote:

"Dear friends – I was desperate to see my mother who is dying. Even though the government did not want me to go to Bangladesh, I went. Soon after my coming, the news broke that I had arrived. The religious fundamentalists immediately started their protests. They are demanding my execution by hanging. More or less every day, thousands are on the streets, making demonstrations and processions against me. In the meantime, an old case emerged which was filed four years ago for my book Nirbachito Columns, on the charge of hurting the religious feeling of the people. The court issued an arrest warrant against me and ordered the seizing of my property.

This case is non–bailable. I am in hiding now, if I am arrested I will be put in prison. If I still try to go to court for bail, nothing is safe for me.

"On the 4th of October, the fundamentalists will block the Home Ministry and demand my death. They have already created a general strike in city called Sylhet. The fundamentalists in Bangladesh have planned more future actions such as a ‘long march’ and a nation–wide general strike to paralyze the whole country. If the Government fails to arrest and hang me, then the fundamentalists have declared that they must kill me. So, in this desperate situation, being with my sick mother, I need protection. If the democratic governments of the world request the Bangladesh government to ensure my security, drop the case issued against me and allow me to leave the country when I want in order to save my life, it would be a great comfort to me.

"Thank you for your support and solidarity."

Taslima Nasreen    


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