UN rights chief: Bangladesh must protect writers and publishers from extremists News
UN rights chief: Bangladesh must protect writers and publishers from extremists

[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official profile] on Wednesday urged [press release] Bangladesh to make a significant effort to prevent extremists from targeting writers, publishers and other potential victims. Zeid stressed that civilians should not feel threatened to exercise their right of free expression. He concluded that the government is obligated to prevent violent groups from silencing those with opposing views. Zeid’s statement follows several attacks that occurred on October 31. Secular blogger Faisal Arefin Dipan was attacked in his office for publishing the sensitive work of a blogger murdered earlier this year. Three other publishers and bloggers were also wounded in a separate publishing house. Al Qaeda claimed [CNN report] that they launched the attacks due to contrasting Muslim views. Authorities have yet to identify the responsible individuals.

Bangladesh has been conflicted with various extremist groups throughout the year, and many civilians have fled the country in fear of being targeted. In August Bangladeshi authorities arrested [JURIST report] three Islamic extremists allegedly involved in the murder of two secular bloggers. Al Jazeera reported [Al Jazeera report] that Bangladesh has itself seen at least four other deadly attacks since the beginning of 2015. Last year Bangladeshi investigators moved the government [JURIST report] to ban Jamaat-e-Islami party (JI) [party website], the country’s largest Islamist party, after evidence emerged indicating that JI formed armed groups to assist Pakistani forces in the commission of atrocities. In February the International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh convicted and sentenced [JURIST report] JI leader Abdus Subhan to death.