Globally renowned twenty-four organisations signed petition for releasing Shahidul Alam

To convey the support for Shahidul Alam, the detained photojournalist and activist, ARTICLE 19 and twenty-three other globally renowned civil society organisations have signed a petition calling immediate unconditional release and dropping of all the allegations. Since being taken into custody, Alam has been denied access to his lawyers, and was reportedly beaten and is in poor health. Authorities initially agreed that Alam would be taken to hospital for medical assistance, but after a brief visit on 8 August, he has been returned to detention.

On 9 August, a petition by Alam’s lawyers was heard at the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh demanding they have access to Alam, that he be brought before the court and seeking a court order that he is not subjected to ill-treatment while in custody. The High Court ordered to arrange medical treatment and to make a full medical assessment for ill-treatment and to report to the court by 13 August 2018. 

According to the press release issued by ARTICLE 19, the signee organisations are: ARTICLE 19, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Acid Survivors Foundation (ASF), Bandhu Social Welfare Society (BSWF), Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, Bangladesh Dalit and Excluded Rights Movements (BDERM), Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (BMP), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), German Section of Amnesty International, Sramik Nirapotta Forum (SNF), Boys of Bangladesh (BOB), Friends Association for Integrated Revolution (FAIR), International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), Index on Censorship, Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), National Alliance of Disabled Peoples Organizations, Nijera Kori, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Steps Towards Development, Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), Nagorik Uddyog, Open Society Foundations Program on Independent Journalism, and Jagriti Prokashoni.