Amnesty Int'l urges govt to take legal action
Demanding a thorough, impartial, independent and effective investigation into the threats made against human rights defender Sultana Kamal, Amnesty International (AI) has urged the government to try the culprits.
It also asked the government to ensure that the human rights defenders are able to carry out peaceful activities without fear of surveillance, intimidation, harassment, arrest, prosecution or retribution.
A lawyer and prominent human rights activist Sultana is given numerous threats of violence from supporters of the Islamist group Hefajat-e-Islam following comments she made on a TV talk show, said AI in its statement.
Several national and international rights organisations and civil society members have expressed concern over the threat given to the renowned rights defender in the past few days.
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), a regional network of Human Rights Defenders, expressed its concern at the demands made by Hefajat, for the immediate arrest, exile from the country, and inciting of physical violence against Sultana.
SAHR urged the government to oblige by the constitutional stipulations of the secular nature of the state, as well as the international obligations it has signed.
It urged the government to provide her with adequate protection and safety.
Expressing concern, another human rights organisation named Front Line Defenders said Islamist groups had given her threat because she worked for human rights and peace.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Hindu Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad and Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi also expressed grave concern over the threat.
The Oikya Parishad said threats on human rights defenders and continuous attack on minority groups have made the future of Bangladesh alarming.
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