Taslima Attacked as She Asserts:Come what may, I will never be silenced

Taslima Attacked as She Asserts:Come what may, I will never be silenced
Hyderabad Event is the logical result of the policies adopted by Indian statepower banning her books and then, rejecting her legitimate pleas for Indian Citizenship!
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551Email: palashbiswaskl@gmail.comhttp://ibnlive.com/videos/46513/andhra-mlas-lead-mob-attack-on-taslima.html
Friends, it is not so shocking that protesters attacked Taslima Nasrin.It is more shocking that the brahminical classses in India, posing as Intellectual and democratic, provoke fundamentalism just to enhance more strngth to their equation of Enslavement eternal and supremacy in the divided geopolitics. Hyderabad Event is the logical result of the policies adopted by Indian statepower banning her books and then, rejecting her legitimate pleas for Indian Citizenship!
Indian protesters manhandle exiled Bangladeshi Muslim writer Taslima Nasrin Angry Muslim protesters on Thursday manhandled exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin while she was attending the release of her book in southern India and asked her to go back to her country. Nasrin escaped unhurt as organizers shielded her from nearly 100 protesters, led by three local lawmakers, in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. In the melee, one of the protesters slapped her, according to eyewitnesses.
An uneasy-looking Nasreen backed into a corner as several middle-aged men threw a leather case, bunches of flowers and other objects at her head and threatened her with a chair, according to a Reuters witness and television pictures.Taslima Nasreen who has applied for an Indian citizenship, later said the incident had not shaken her belief in this country and its democracy.
''I believe in democracy.I hope to live safe in this country as a democrat.
''The people who attacked me are a minority .I got support and sympathy from majority of people. I thank them,'' she said while speaking to NDTV.
Another guest, journalist Innaih Narisetti was injured in the attack.
Meanwhile I&B Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi has condemned the incident.
''It's a very shameful thing if any person is attacked. We criticise this incident in the strongest of terms,'' he said.
Since the 1990s, Nasreen has faced numerous threats from Islamic groups for her writings.
She has been living in exile for more than ten years now.
Some of the mob shouted for her death.
Some radical Muslims hate Nasreen for saying Islam and other religions oppress women.On Thursday, lawmakers and members of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party attacked her at the press club in Hyderabad at the launch of a Telugu translation of one of her novels.Other men tried to shield her and catch the projectiles. She ended up with a bruised forehead, and described the attack as barbaric before being taken to safety by police.
'If any religion allows the persecution of the people of different faiths, if any religion keeps women in slavery, if any religion keeps people in ignorance, then I can't accept that religion.'
'Humankind is facing an uncertain future. The probability of new kinds of rivalry and conflict looms large. In particular, the conflict is between two different ideas, secularism and fundamentalism. I don't agree with those who think the conflict is between two religions, namely Christianity and Islam, or Judaism and Islam. After all there are fundamentalists in every religious community. I don't agree with those people who think that the crusades of the Middle Ages are going to be repeated soon. Nor do I think that this is a conflict between the East and the West. To me, this conflict is basically between modern, rational, logical thinking and irrational, blind faith. To me, this is a conflict between modernity and anti-modernism. While some strive to go forward, others strive to go backward. It is a conflict between the future and the past, between innovation and tradition, between those who value freedom and those who do not.'
'Freedom of expression for some is not enough.We must work for freedom of expression for all.Human rights for some is not enough.We must work for the human rights for all. Peace for some is not enough.We must work for peace for all.I, come what may, will not be silenced.Come what may, I will continue my fight for equality and justice without any compromise until my death.Come what may, I will never be silenced.'
Official Home Page of Taslima NasrinArticles About Taslima ... TASLIMA NASRIN'S WEBSITE. Taslima, a physician, a writer, a radical feminist, human rights activist and a secular humanist. ... http://taslimanasrin.com/index2.html
About 12 million people, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus, fled for their lives during partition. Almost a million died. Entire trainloads of dead bodies crossed the border in both directions. We suffer fro dimentia as we ignore the plight of the victims of partition! We are proud of India`s role in Bangladesh Liberation and boast to bear the buredn of continuous refugee influx, but the Ruling classes never accept the responsibility of partition. rather they deprive the partition victim resettled bengali dalit refugees of Citizenship, human rights, mother tongue, reservation and civil rights!
In 1931, Winston Churchill had warned that if the British left India, majority Hindus would gain "the armed ascendancy", public services would collapse and the country would fall back rapidly "into the barbarism and privations of the Middle Ages".
And yet, 60 years later, despite the violent orgy of its birth, India has survived and even begun to prosper, as the world's largest democracy and a broadly secular state. Now , the daughter of Lord and Lady mountbatten teaches us the partition history highlighting the Romance of Nehru and Lady Mountbatten. She, though, exposes the Truth that Gandhi was kept in Dark and Muslim League as well as The Secular Congress also ensured that Power must be handed over the Brahminical system accross the border!
It is shocking! We must stand united to cpndemn this fascist attack.As I know the person, named Taslima Nasrin, she is not going to be scared. She would not stop writing or change her clearcut stand against Religion whatsoever it may be. She is an athiest. She considers religion the base of persecution of Woman, Dalits, Tribals and underprevileged including black. She holds the opinion that until the Religion is not wiped out, human and civil rights stand irrelevant!I had an opportunity to interview taslima nasrin some years back when she visited Kolkata from france. Now she is staying in Kolkata with extended VISA and government of India is rejecting her plea for Indian Citizenship for so many years to appease Muslim Vote Bank. West Bengal goverment also banned her book and promoted the fundamental forces in opposition. As the Left vote bank consists of enblock Muslim support!I never thought that Taslim wrote naything classical in comparison to other bangladeshi or bengali writers. But she dared to challange the Brahminical system accross the border holding state power and supremacy in everysphere of life. She voiced the Universal woman. she was the first bangladeshi writer to highlight Minority Persecution with her banned Novel, LAJJA! Though I never considered this novel any worth of it as it fails to highlight the democratic and secular movement in and within Bangladesh.As the so called mainstream Bengali literature accross the border has turned into prostitution, I don`t hold taslima alone responsible for the softporn, a regular imput in her writing.We, the Indian writers and intellectual in general, always have supported her fight for the liberty of expression!What she writes on religion and society, may be very very controversial, but these elements have deeprooted base in the system itself. The Reality! And she is exposing the rot with her falavour and style.
I always disliked this style, not the content! Her commercialisation of art and literature made me detached with all afairs relating Taslima Nasrin. Neverthe less, the issues remain. The plight of minorities in Bangladesh with continuous refugee influx go on and go on! Her questions on Woman Lib always remain very genuine. We may not deny if we are honest enough.
The democratic system always allows dissent, discussion, diolgue! What kind of Democracy is this that the system rather provokes an attack on a writer?
Political analysts feel this is attack has been planned given that Assembly elections are scheduled in a few months time, while Sajan George, National president of the Global Council of Indian Christians said: "It is a shame because this is not the way to treat a guest and it is also an attack on a women. We should hang our heads in shame at this treatment meted out to her. India in her 60th year of Independence prided herself that she has a woman President, which we hoped heralded improved status and treatment for our women. India is a secular democracy. Does India believe in Secular traditions? In a democracy we are ensured our freedom of speech and expression. There is a climate of intolerance gaining ground in the country and especially in Andhra Pradesh".
The author, who lives in Kolkata, now describes herself as a secular humanist, and criticises religion as an oppressive force.
In 2004, a Muslim cleric offered a $440 reward to anyone who was able to successfully humiliate Nasreen by blackening her face with shoe polish or ink or by garlanding her with shoes.
She worked as a doctor before turning to writing, and several of her books have been banned in India and Bangladesh because they upset hardline Muslims.
The European Parliament awarded her the Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought in 1994.
Nasrin fled Bangladesh in 1994 when Islamic extremists threatened to kill her after an Indian newspaper quoted her as saying changes must be made to the Islamic holy book, the Quran, to give women more rights.
The protesters, belonging to the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, a political party in Andhra Pradesh state, burst into the local Press Club on Thursday shouting slogans describing her as "anti-Muslim" and "anti-Islam." They ransacked the venue, throwing chairs in the air and overturning the tables. Nasrin came to Hyderabad to attend the release of her book "Shodh" (Getting Even) in the local Telugu language. The writer faces death threats from Islamic hard-liners at home.
Taslima nasrinBirth : 25th. August. 1962 Place of birth : Mymensigh, Bangladesh.Education : MBBS , 1984Work : as a doctor in different public hospitals including Mitford and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (1986-1993)
Quit : Quit job in 1993 as a protest of government's decisions. Government confiscated passport and asked to stop writing.
Fatwa : The price was set for Taslima Nasreen's head by Bangladeshi Muslim Fundamentalists in 1993 and 1994.
Court cases : Trials are still going on for Blasphemy against Taslima Nasreen in Bangladesh court. One case was filed by Bangladesh Government.
Exile: Taslima Nasreen has been living in exile for 5 years. She lived in Sweden, Germany and United States. Now she is living in France. In Defence of Taslima Nasreen
View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition
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To: Indian Government We, the undersigned, are writing to register our strongest protest at yet more death threats made against writer, humanist, secularist and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen. This time, Taqi Raza Khan the president of an Islamic group, the All-India Ibtehad Council, has offered a bounty of about ?8,000 for her beheading. This and other clear threats to her life require that the Indian government bring the full force of the law to bear on him and those who threaten and incite murder and terror.
Taqi Raza Khan has warned the Indian government that if she is not driven out of India within ten days ?all hell will break loose?. In fact, it is the other way around.
Taslima has every right to freely express her views on Islam and Sharia law and in favour of women?s rights and equality. The Indian government is duty bound to protect her from these threats and grant her the citizenship she requires so that she may live without fear of expulsion.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
View Current Signatures
http://www.petitiononline.com/taslima/petition.htmlNasreen - sometimes spelled "Nasrin" - was born into a Muslim family in Bangladesh, a conservative, predominantly Islamic country.
Taslima NasrinFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, searchTaslima NasrinTaslima Nasrin (Bangla: ?????? ??????), also known as Taslima Nasreen, (born 25 August 1962 in Mymensingh, Bangladesh) is a Bengali Bangladeshi physician, author, feminist human rights activist and secular humanist. She was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1994 , and a Humanist Award (from the International Humanist and Ethical Union) in 1996 . Since 1993 , Nasrin has faced numerous death threats from Islamic fundamentalists. Recently, in March 2007, an Indian Muslim group offered a bounty of 500,000 rupees for her beheading.[1] A former Muslim, Nasrin says she has become an atheist.[2]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taslima_Nasrin
My attackers are minority, majority is with me: Taslima
New Delhi: Controversial exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, who was attacked by Muslim activists in Hyderabad on Thursday, said that she believed in democracy and hoped to live safely in this country.
" I believe in democracy. I hope to live safely in this country as a democrat. The people who attacked me are in a minority. I get support and sympathy from a majority of people. I thank them," she said.
Speaking about the incident, Nasreen, who was being escorted by police, said the MIM activists stormed in and started abusing her for her writing.
She said the protestors attempted to throw a chair at her and she could have been seriously injured had those present not rushed her to an adjacent room.
"I was rescued by police who escorted me to the airport," she said.
Several of Taslima's books have been banned, both in Bangladesh and in West Bengal.
The following books in the People's Republic of Bangladesh have been banned. Therefore, people in that people's republic are not allowed to read these books. If you click on the book cover of Amar Meyebela, below, you can download it in Bengali. Even in India it has been partly censored, Now, wherever you are you can read the entirely uncensored version of the book.
1. Lajja 1993 Lajja(Shame)
Lajja is banned by the Government of Bangladesh
2.Amar Meyebela 1999 Amar Meyebela (My girlhood)
Banned by the Government of Bangladesh
"Bangladesh bans new Taslima book," BBC News, 13 August 1999
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared Amar Meyebela pornography
"L'ffaire Taslima Nareen ou la parole à la Censeure," 1 October 1999
3.Utal Hawa 2002 utal hawa(Gusty Wind)
Utal Hawa is banned by the Government of Bangladesh
Book Bans
Bangladesh Bans Third Taslima Book BBC news, 27 August 2002Book banned for attack on Islam
Utal Hawa banned
Taslima's new book also goes Lajja wayBook Banned"Nasreen contre l'islam" 31 August 20
Ko (Speak up) 4. Ko 2003
Ko is banned by the High Court of Bangladesh.
Suit against Taslima Nasreen
Injunction on selling of Taslima's book
Ko ( ka) is banned
Taslima's Ka erupts sexual controversy
Split wide closed
Book banned at behest of Islamic bigots
Taslima's opinion
dwikhandita (split in two)
5. Dwikhandita 2003
The book was banned by the 'Communist' Government of West Bengal of India on the charges of hurting religious feelings of the people. The book was also banned by the High Court of West Bengal.
Ban on Taslima's Dwikhandita
Ban On Dwikhandita Justified
Dwikhandita banned
Hypocrisy split wide open
Protest book ban
Ban on Taslima
Bengal Bans Taslima's book
Brickbats for Ban
WB Govt Bans Taslima's Book
Banning Taslima's Book
Opinions
Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen releases her latest book at Kolkata Book Fair.(28k, 56k)
sei sob ondhokar (Those dark days)
6. Sei Sob Ondhokar 2004
Banned by the Government of Bangladesh
The fourth part of the autobiography was banned on the 20th of February, one day before Language Day, a big national day for Bengali language and literature. No one protested the ban, according to several news sources:
Another Taslima Book Banned Daily Star, 20 February 2004
Book banned at behest of Islamic bigots
Pak Tribune News
Taslima Nasrin's column
Articles:
No Progress Without a Secular Society
Religion is the best way to fool the poor
Why I am a Secular Humanist
Ending Silence
Banned Books (Bangla):
Dwikhandita
Amar Meyebela
Book Review by Taslima Nasrin:
Why I am not A Muslim
Bangla Articles of/on Taslima:
"Outlawed" Taslima - A few words to ponder Manish Paul
Taslima Nasreen: The fine line between Private and Public Maqsoodul Haque (Mac)
1.Sayed Shamsul Haq wins the first round 2. Taslima Nasrin faces Sayed Haq Dr. Ajoy Roy
A Statement from Mukto-mona : Stop Muzzling Taslima Nasrin a la Bangladeshi style
Bangladesh's judiciary proved it again that they are not free. Mukto-Mona, an assembly of freethinkers mostly from Bangalee descent in the Internet, strongly denounces the recent verdict of an obscure court located in the backwater of Bangladesh vis-à-vis the feminist writer Ms. Taslima Nasrin. The suddenness of the court verdict surprised most freedom-loving Bangalees. And worst of all, no attorney had represented Ms. Taslima Nasrin at the court. Therefore, it was a one-sided affair. ... (Read more)http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/taslima/index.htm
Taslima's other books are not so easy to find in the bookshops in Bangladesh. The once best-selling author's works are now taboo in her own country.
Indo-Bangladeshi relationsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia(Redirected from India-Bangladesh relations)Jump to: navigation, searchDuring the partition of India after independence in 1947, the Bengal region was divided into two territories: East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) and West Bengal. East Bengal was made a part of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan due its overwhelmingly large Muslim population (then more than 85%). In 1955, the government of Pakistan changed its name from East Bengal to East Pakistan.
However confrontations between East and West Pakistan started soon after. In 1948, Jinnah declared that only Urdu would be the official language of the entire nation while more than 95% of the population in East Pakistan spoke Bengali. When protests broke out in East Pakistan on February 21, 1952, Pakistani police fired on the protestors, killing hundreds of people. East Pakistan was also given an inferior treatment by the federal government of Pakistan (situated in West Pakistan) and small funds were allocated for the development of the region, despite of it being significant contributor in the revenue generation. Therefore, a separatist movement started to grow in present day Bangladesh. When in 1970 elections, the main separatist party, the Awami League, headed by Mujibur Rehman won 167 of the 169 seats and got the right to form the government, the President of Pakistan under Yahya Khan refused to recognize the elections and arrested Mujibur Rehman. This led to widespread protests in East Pakistan and in 1971, the Bangladesh Liberation War started.
India under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi fully supported the cause of the Bangladeshis and its troops and equipment were used to fight the Pakistani forces. India also provided support and training to the main Bangladeshi guerilla force, the Mukti Bahini. Finally, on 26 March 1971, Bangladesh emerged as an independent state. Since then, there have been several issues of agreement as well as of contention between two India and Bangladesh.
[edit] Areas of agreementIndia, because of its central role in the independence of Bangladesh initially had very cordial relations with the country. India was also the first country to recognize Bangladesh as an independent nation. It also had a sense of obligation and thankfulness towards India[citation needed]. Both India and Bangladesh acknowledge the genocide of Bengalis perpetrated by Pakistan in the 1971 Bangladesh atrocities. Moreover, Bangladesh was faced with an economic crisis after independence and its population was 8th largest in the world at that time. India gave large amounts of aid to Bangladesh and thousands of Bangladeshi refugees immigrated to India.[citation needed] Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s first foreign visit as Prime Minister was to India and it was then decided Indo-Bangladesh relations would be guided by principles of democracy, socialism, nonalignment and opposition to colonialism and racism. Indira Gandhi too visited Bangladesh in 1972 and assured that India would never interfere in the internal affairs of the country. In 1972, both the countries signed a 'Treaty of Friendship and Peace'. An Indo-Bangladesh Trade Pact was also signed.
[edit] Areas of disputeA major bone of contention has been the construction of the Farakkha Barrage by India to increase water supply in the Hoogli river. Bangladesh contends that it does not receive a fair share of the Ganga waters. Bangladesh considers it to be a violation of the international convention that prohibits unilateral withdrawal of water from an international water body. There have also been disputes regarding the transfer of Teen Bigha Corridor to Bangladesh. It is an area of Bangladesh in West Bengal which is surrounded by Indian land. After Bangladesh's independence, several enclaves were exchanged between the then government of India and Bangladesh. As Bangladesh's newly received enclaves were inside Indian territory, the agreement included giving Bangladesh a small piece of land, the Teen Bigha Corridor, to connect the mainland with the encalves in exchange of a token of 1 Taka. After the exchange of the enclaves took place, the Teen Bigha Corridor was not handed over to Bangladesh until decades later when it was formally leased to bangladesh on June 26, 1992. There is ongoing claims by the Indian authorities regarding use of this land by anti-India forces and illegal immigrants to cross over into India which Bangladesh denies. Another issue which continues to be a major part of Indian politics is the issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India, especially in nearby states like West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. India allege that continued illegal immigration changed in the border area demography of India resulting in ethnic imbalance, electoral irregularity and loss of employment opportunities. The rise of Islamic fundamentalist forces in Pakistan and use of these forces by Inter-Services Intelligence to carry out anti-India activates has also aggravated India. India complains that ISI is using Bangladesh to carry out terrorists operations in India and blames Bangladeshi government of not doing enough to prevent such activities.
CPM has left W. Bengal in the throes of turmoilBy Prafull Goradia
Unlike the Punjab in the early years of Partition, there was very little of a population exchange in Bengal. It was a one way traffic which has made the state also over populated, one of the compulsions of which is a shift from agriculture to manufacture. More than one out of every four Bengalis being Muslim, Jamiat-e-Ulema is likely to have a large following in its endeavour to resist the setting up of large factories.
Bengal is getting in the throes of turmoil. On this side of the border, there is a struggle to prevent the industrialisation of the state. Nandigram is only the first symptom of the resistance. Uncannily, although Singur was a similar issue, the impact did not go far. Was it not because the Jamiat-e-Ulma-e-Hind led by Janab Siddiquallah Chowdhury did not have a popular base in that area? Whereas Nandigram is a majority area for him. Incensed by the Marxist contempt towards religion, Chief Minister Bhattacharjee is unable to empathise with the compulsions of Islam. Prophet Mohammed wanted his followers to achieve a majority in the world’s population by doomsday. In order to fulfill this wish, procreation must be prolific which in turn needs an obedient womanhood; preferably uneducated and unquestioning. Such a woman cannot appreciate the value of education for her children. Without secular studies, the offspring cannot grow up to compete for modern jobs. Hence industrialisation is undesirable for Islam. Not all the oil wealth of Arabia and Iran has been able to fuel any great manufacture in West Asia.
Remarkably Bangladesh has also remained substantially without large industries. In the first flush of Partition, a number of jute mills were set up to process all the golden jute that Dhaka and Narayanganj districts produced. For a country with a severely adverse land man ratio, industrialisation should have been a continual process. Perhaps the popularity of Islam has been a significant stumbling block. It is to be seen what kind of government will emerge from the current crisis created by the military takeover. But Islam will continue to be the state religion. So far Bangladesh, and it’s predecessor East Pakistan has, either pushed out Hindu refugees or sent out Muslim infiltrators. West Bengal has been unfortunate in being at the receiving end of both the inflows.
Unlike the Punjab in the early years of Partition, there was very little of a population exchange in Bengal. It was a one-way traffic that has made the state also over populated, one of the compulsions of which is a shift from agriculture to manufacture. More than one out of every four Bengalis being Muslim, Jamiat-e-Ulema is likely to have a large following in its endeavour to resist the setting up of large factories.
Chowdhury means business; he has gone to the extent of declaring that the CPM is anti-Muslim behind the veneer of secularism. Shri Narendra Modi has given more rights to Muslims than Bhattacharjee in Bengal. Muslims are by far safer in Gujarat where they enjoy more rights and privileges. What is the future Chief Minister Bhattacharya’s dream of industrialisation a la China? His dream is not unrealistic; his State was the Ruhr of India at the time of Independence. The two Bengals juxtaposed make an interesting paradox. One side with 90 per cent Muslims who are happy to be agrarian and the other side with 75 per cent Hindus raring to modernise. In the absence of progress, the cream of Bengal talent is emigrating to other parts of India as well as overseas. If the current trend continues, West Bengal would lose the bulk of its elite.
There are other problems as well. The High Commission is not effective except reportedly in conveying donations to the Rama Krishna Mission at Dhaka that in turn heals more Muslims than Hindus. Dhaka humiliated India in 2002 by killing several of its BSF jawans and returning their bodies hanging on poles as if they were animal carcasses. The Indian government was helpless and its foreign minister exclaimed: do you expect us to go to war with Bangladesh? The government of Kolkata is equally indifferent; it is yet to recommend the granting of citizenship to Taslima Nasrin.
It was hoped that after the secession of Bangladesh in 1971, ethnic cleansing would come to an end. At Partition, there were 29 per cent Hindus in East Bengal. By 1974 they had come down to 13.5 per cent. With the advent of General Zia-ur-Rahman and subsequently General H.M. Ershad, the cleansing was resumed. Today the figure hovers around 9. There are dozens of incidents every month in different parts of Bangladesh; in the course of May, 55 such occurrences were reported in the local press. Land in the villages and houses of Hindus in the urban areas are forcibly occupied and most often the police does not even register the complaints of the disposed. Temples are also targets and even the writ of the High Court does not always run. For example, in Sherpur of Bogra district, Ma Bhawani Moyee mandir lost one of its sections to marauders last year despite a Court injunction. This oppression would cease if the Muslims of Bengal were enabled to gather in Bangladesh while all the Hindus from there were allowed to cross over to West Bengal. In other words, an organised exchange of population should be negotiated between New Delhi and Dhaka with Kolkata being equally involved.
The technique of such an exchange between two countries was authored by the League of Nations soon after World War I ended. A detailed scheme, how to value respective properties, when which batch of people would move to where and how they should be compensated with land or property etc. was worked out under the leadership of no other than the legendary Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The exchange scheme was formalised by the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923. Nearly all Christians, mainly Greek, residing in Turkey were transferred to Greece while Muslims of Greece were asked to migrate to Turkey. However difficult and painful the exchange of populations was, it brought to an end religious strifes in Greece and Turkey, reminiscent of communal riots in India. http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=194&page=11
Taslima, who is against all censorship anywhere, has chosen an inspiring solution. On 16 December 2003 (appropriately the anniversary of Bangladesh's independence in 1971) she has put Dwikhandito in Bengali as well as Amar Meyebela. Amar Meyebela in Bengali on the worldwide web for everyone to read, whether they live in a country that does not respect freedom of expression or in a country that does.
Latest News : High Court lifted the ban on Dwikhandito in September 2005. The book would not be available on the net.
Taslima's Reaction after Dwikhandito ban
Indian Communist party defends the banning of the book
Communists statement for banning the book
Vajira, who is also a painter, poet and lyricist, has previously come into conflict with the Sinhala Buddhist hierarchy over his artistic work. The Peoples Alliance government has also banned one of his songs from state radio broadcasts. The song, which calls for freedom of artistic expression, is about Taslima Nasrin, the exiled Bangladeshi writer whose award-winning book has been banned in Bangladesh and in Sri Lanka. Muslim fundamentalists in Bangladesh have issued a fatwa or death sentence against Nasrin.
Not the first to be accused of blasphemyBy Bashir Goth - posted Monday, 9 July 2007 Sign Up for free e-mail updates!
Britain knighted Salman Rushdie like many British citizens before him, honoured for their service to Britain. To honour Rushdie as a writer for his contribution to literature is a commendable initiative. This is purely a British affair and has nothing to do with any other people or creed.
To protest against what the UK does or doesn’t do for its own citizens is a flagrant interference in its internal affairs. It is like protesting against granting British citizenship to Rushdie, or to any other individual for that matter.
Salman Rushdie is considered to be one of the most illustrious and creative writers of the late 20th century. The fact that some people loathe him for insulting their sentiments or faith is beside the point. Rushdie is not the first and will definitely not be the last writer with a Muslim name to be accused of blasphemy.The blasphemy sword of Islam has been hanging over Muslim writers, thinkers and poets since the dawn of Islam when the first fatwa was issued against the poet Ka’b bin Zuhair who was accused of insulting the Prophet of Islam in some of his poems. Zuhair had to convert to Islam and beg the Prophet for forgiveness in his famous poem titled The Cloak - as the narrative says, Mohammed removed his own cloak and placed it over the shoulders of Ka’b as a sign of pardon.
Ka’b’s poem s