Moshiur Rahman Biplob, Subrata Odhikary Shuvo, Russel Parvez and Asif Mohiuddin – the four atheist bloggers in Bangladesh who spent months in custody before being bailed, on blasphemy charges – have been indicted. November 6 is when the trial begins Associated Press reports.
Regular readers to the site will notice the red “B” that has been on the side bar for almost six months, clicking takes you straight to a post of mine in April here which gives more background.
For me this is what The Out Campaign is meant to be all about. I hope that Richard Dawkins can use his foundation, celebrity and the brand recognition of the campaign to raise awareness, promote solidarity and galvanise action – that a second, let alone up to fourteen years incarceration, is unacceptable for blasphemy.
If you are in the European Union, member states have a duty in foreign policy to encourage internationally the decriminalising of blasphemy laws. Remind them of this obligation.
As I mentioned in a letter to William Hague:
Such concern over free people expressing their conscience and views the world over are part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,”
For all that value freedom of religion and freedom from religion, with no compulsion or coercion on free thought and free speech, please show your support.
Update 11 September: more on via Rational Association
Article written by John Sargeant on Homo economicus’ Weblog
Follow @JPSargeant78
Homo economicus' Weblog 