[Forwarded By Asif Saleh.]

Subject: petition for Tareq and Azhar


Please sign the following petition to the PM of Bangladesh.  We will
send it by the end of next week.

http://www.petitiononline.com/dp100/petition.html

Thanks,

Asif

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To:  Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia
Office of the Prime Minister
Gona Bhaban
Sher-e-Bangla Nagar
Dhaka
Bangladesh

We the undersigned are greatly concerned over the arrest on 13 March 2002 of two staff members of the non-governmental organization, Proshika ("A Centre for Human Development") has raised serious concern about the Bangladeshi government's observance of its obligations under international human rights law to ensure the right to freedom of expression.

Police arrested Omar Tarek Chowdhury, deputy director of Proshika and Ajharul Hoque, an employee of the organization, on allegations that they had been in possession of "documents" relating to attacks against members of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Details of the alleged "documents" have not been made public. However, sources close to Proshika believe the documents obtained by police consist of several analytical articles relating to writ petitions filed previously before the High Court seeking action by the government regarding attacks against members of the minority groups in Bangladesh. We are concerned that the arrest of Omar Tarek Chowdhury and Ajharul Hoque has raised concern not only about their own right to freedom of expression, but also it has sent a disturbing message to those seeking to defend the human rights of Bangladeshi citizens.

The two prisoners are now detained under the Special Powers Act (SPA). The broadly formulated grounds for detention allow people to be detained effectively as prisoners of conscience. Ironically, the government has pledged to repeal the SPA, but it continues to detain people under this law. So far no formal charges have been framed against the two prisoners. Based on reported statements by the police that they have been detained for possession of "documents" relating to attacks on members of minority groups, various human rights organizations believe they may be prisoners of conscience.

We urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Omar Tarek Chowdhury and Ajharul Hoque.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

 

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