RSF condemns ‘outrageous’ charges against journalists in Bangladesh
- In Reports
- 10:39 PM, Aug 31, 2024
- Myind Staff
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has denounced the “outrageous” charges, including crimes against humanity, levelled against numerous Bangladeshi journalists. The organisation has called for the immediate release of the arrested reporters and the withdrawal of the “unfounded” accusations.
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, multiple cases have been filed against journalists. On August 29, a Bangladeshi lawyer lodged a case at the International Crimes Tribunal against 52 persons, including Sheikh Hasina and 27 prominent journalists, accusing them of crimes against humanity and genocide.
Referring to the arrest of journalists, the Paris-based NGO, known for its work in defending press freedom, said in a statement released on Friday: “Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for their immediate release and for these unfounded charges to be dropped. This systematic judicial harassment of journalists must end.”
The complaint lodged by the lawyer claimed that the accused were implicated in crimes against humanity and genocide during protests by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. This movement, which began in July, was demanding the abolition of a contentious quota system in government jobs.
Earlier, a journalist couple – Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa – were charged with the murder of demonstrators and are currently behind bars.
After weeks of student-led protests, Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. Over 100 cases have been filed against her, alleging various crimes, including murder, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
A series of criminal cases have been filed nationwide against former ministers, Awami League leaders and workers, police and military officers, journalists, and individuals perceived as close to the former premier and her party.
Antoine Bernard, RSF’s director of advocacy and assistance, said, “The purge of journalists who are considered to be affiliated with the former government has reached a new level. Media professionals are bearing the brunt of the need for vengeance that permeates this terrible legal cabal, which is hurting the image of the political transition underway in Bangladesh.”
The RSF statement noted that the complaint filed by the lawyer on August 29, alleging crimes against humanity, represents a new phase in the ongoing series of lawsuits against media professionals. It highlighted that, for the first time, journalists are being targeted in a case being reviewed by the International Crimes Tribunal, a special court established in 1973 to adjudicate abuses committed during Bangladesh’s war of independence.
“The interim authorities, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, must do everything in their power to end this vicious process. Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed must be released immediately. All charges against journalists must be dropped,” Bernard said.
Among the journalists named in the criminal cases are Nayeemul Islam Khan, former press secretary to Sheikh Hasina; Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, former information affairs adviser to Hasina; Farida Yasmin, former president of the National Press Club; Shyamal Dutta, former general secretary of the National Press Club; Mozammel Babu, editor-in-chief of Ekattor Television; Nabanita Chowdhury; Tushar Abdullah, news head at Ekhon TV; Saiful Alam, editor of the Bangla daily Jugantor; Nayeem Nizam, editor of Bangladesh Pratidin; Abed Khan, former editor of Samakal; Provash Amin, head of news at ATN News; Zayadul Ahsan Pintu, editor at DBC TV; and Munni Shaha, former editor-in-chief of ATN News.
Image source: Hindustan Times
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