Great news. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, the Muslim editor of the Bangladeshi newspaper The Weekly Blitz who was thrown into jail in Bangladesh 17 months ago for speaking out in favour of Israel (see my post last month), has been freed. One of the two people who campaigned for him, Dr Richard Benkin, has issued a press release which says this:
'Earlier today, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, the Muslim journalist jailed after publishing articles that urged his nation of Bangladesh to recognize Israel, advocated interfaith dialogue, and condemned terrorism and the growing power of radical Islamists in the non-Arab Muslim world, was released at about 7pm Dhaka time.
'Throughout 2003, Choudhury wrote articles countering the biased news about Israel and the Jews, interviewed Israeli professor and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Ada Aharoni, and helped Zionist Richard Benkin publish material in the Bangladeshi press. All of this sparked debate and discussion where there had been none before. But as he was about to leave for an historic address in Tel Aviv, Choudhury was taken away by police.
'Not charged at first, though accused of the catch-all “spying for Israel,” Choudhury was repeatedly denied bail even beyond the limits of Bangladeshi law. Police raided his home and office, seizing computers and files; followed by a mob that sacked the premises with impunity. His brother was beaten and twice had to flee Dhaka; and his family was threatened and brought to the brink of financial ruin. Eventually, he was charged with sedition, a capital offense, though the government admitted in its own investigation that there was no real evidence for the charge.
'But things started to change early in April when US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) got involved, calling a meeting between himself, Benkin, and new Bangladeshi Ambassador Shamsher Chowdhury. Kirk proved a solid advocate for Choudhury and human rights, clearly enunciating the case for his freedom. Chowdhury was receptive and promised to press the matter with his government. All three men pledged to work together for justice. The ambassador proved to be a man of his word. Soon thereafter, Choudhury began receiving the needed health care previously denied him; and only three weeks after the meeting, he was freed. It was accomplished within the framework of Bangladeshi law and involved efforts by several high government officials.
'Choudhury himself is anything but bitter. Speaking with Benkin shortly after his release, Choudhury said “my 17 months in prison will have been worth it” if the government of Bangladesh helps return that nation to the principles of tolerance and democracy that are its heritage.'
This is really tremendous. It shows what effect a couple of determined individuals can have if they make their voices heard on behalf of truth and justice. And it should act as a spur to others in the west to raise their own voices in support of other courageous Muslim dissidents, who are risking their lives by advocating freedom, tolerance and truth-telling in societies where to do so can be a death warrant. Just like the Soviet dissidents in the 1970s and 1980s, Muslim dissidents are in desperate need of our support if the tyrannies under which they suffer are to be broken. With the world behind them, it can be done.
