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Window of Opportunity to End Journalist’s Persecution in Bangladesh

Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 1/31/2007

Bangladesh—On January 8 Richard Benkin of Chicago, the man who more than anyone else has kept journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury out of prison and alive, finally embraced his spiritual brother outside Zia International Airport in the Bangladeshi capital. Choudhury was arrested and tortured in 2003 after exposing the rise of radical Islam in his country, urging Bangladesh-Israel relations, and advocating interfaith dialogue based on religious equality. After 17 months, Benkin and US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) secured his release. Since then, Choudhury has worked closely with Benkin, resuming publication of his “Weekly Blitz” and providing the same fearless journalism for which the government and its radical associates imprisoned him. Choudhury now faces charges of “sedition, treason, and blasphemy,” and a potential death penalty. Choudhury's international counsel is the noted human rights attorney, Irwin Cotler, former Canadian Law Minister.

The desire to stand with his brother prompted Benkin to persevere in attempting to visit Bangladesh, even after the government refused him entry three times. Three days after his arrival, the military called a State of Emergency, canceled elections, and deployed throughout Dhaka. The changed situation enabled Choudhury and Benkin to meet with leaders of the major factions (including a pair of radical Islamists), and to secure the help of Reps. Kirk and Nita Lowey (D-NY) who introduced their Congressional Resolution demanding that the charges against Choudhury be dropped.

The new Bangladeshi leaders—civilian and military—have indicated their sensitivity to how democratic nations view them and seemed reasonable. When Choudhury’s trial resumed on January 22, the government witnesses against him failed to show forcing a postponement until February 28. Based on this and other information, Choudhury and Benkin are urging their supporters to flood the new government with letters, faxes, and emails about the case. Their meetings also gave the pair reason to be optimistic that radical Islam—once poised to take over the country—might be suffering a reversal in Bangladesh. For further information or interviews, contact Richard Benkin as noted above.