Bangladeshi Muslim editor faces death penalty for moderate views

[barb162]

Sep. 21, 2006 23:31 | Updated Sep. 21, 2006 23:42

Bangladeshi Muslim editor faces death penalty for moderate views

A Bangladeshi Muslim journalist arrested in the past for advocating ties with Israel now faces charges of sedition, a crime punishable by death in Bangladesh, and will likely be put on trial by the end of the month, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

In a court session on Tuesday in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, a state-appointed judge ruled that the government's case against Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury could proceed to trial and that the hearings would commence within 15 days.

As editor of The Weekly Blitz, an English-language newspaper published in Dhaka, Choudhury aroused the ire of Bangladeshi authorities after he printed articles favorable to Israel and critical of Muslim extremism.

Bangladesh does not recognize Israel's existence and refuses to establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

snip
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1157913680684&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Freedom of the Press?

[progressisvirtue]

1. another great example of why

muslim extremism needs to be confronted... this cannot happen in civilized societies... and no i am not advocating war

[barb162]

3. I'd like to read another story about this that the people

were demonstrating in his defense.

[progressisvirtue]

5. the thing is

theres a loud voice in the middle east calling for reform (the youth in iran, for example), its just the deathgrip the imams have on society is tough to overcome... but the way to overcome that is NOT war, its peace and showing the middle east what a good, moral, noble people we are, and that even though we dont believe what they believe we dont pose a threat and respect thier beliefs (not shar'ia beliefs, but general muslim canon)... unfortunatly we have two things going against us... our open society IS a threat to the imams, because with openness and democracy comes a threat to power, and we have a complete moron in office who thinks you can bomb or threaten to bomb anyone into reform.

[barb162]

7. That's pretty good

I think you're right. The man seems very mild-mannered and the fact he's getting this kind of official action and threats against him is a very sad sign about his country.

[barb162]

8. And welcome to DU!

[progressisvirtue]

9. Thanks!

been lurking forever, finally joined up

[enigma000]

2. I guess we can blame this on Jewish extremism

If it weren't for the policies of Israel, this editor wouldn't be facing trial.

/need I bother?

[meti57b]

4. It's more like .....

..... If it weren't for the policies of Bangladesh, this editor wouldn't be facing trial.

[barb162]

6. That's a super stretch. Israel is not prosecuting the man

No, "we" cannot blame this on Jewish extremism

If someone here supports Hezbollah IN THE PRESS, does the government try to put the person to death?

Israel is not a terrorist nation either.