More international and local rights watchdogs and individuals condemned the arrest of Bangladeshi rights defender Adilur Rahman Khan and called for his immediate release.
The Amnesty International and Switzerland-based International Commission of Jurists have asked the Bangladesh authorities to release Adilur, also the secretary of Odhikar, immediately and stop harassment of human rights defenders and other critics of the government.
In a release, the ICJ said it was calling for the immediate release of Adilur, also a prominent Supreme Court lawyer and human rights defender in Bangladesh.
It said plainclothes police officers had arrested Adilur at his home on August 10 without an arrest warrant.
‘Adilur Rahman Khan is being charged for the lawful exercise of the right to freedom of expression, so Bangladeshi authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against him and release him,’ said Ben Schonveld, ICJ’s South Asia director.
‘Until the charges are dropped, he must be released on bail.’
Adilur Rahman Khan was charged on August 11 under section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006, for distorting information regarding a police operation on a Hefazat-e Islam rally in May 5-6.
Odhikar reported that 61 people had been killed in the police action against the rally. The government denied any casualties.
On August 12, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court stayed the remand order, directing that Adilur be sent back to jail, where he could be interrogated ‘at the gate of the prison.’
‘The High Court’s stay of the remand order is a positive development. However, the Bangladesh government must uphold its obligations under domestic and international law to guarantee freedom of expression and allow human rights defenders to carry out their work.’
Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Bangladesh is a party, guarantees ‘freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.’
The UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers provide that lawyers must be allowed to carry out their work ‘without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference.’
Further, lawyers shall, in particular, have the right to take part in public discussions of matters concerning the law, administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights.
Meanwhile, the Amnesty International has adopted Adilur as a prisoner of conscience.
‘Adilur Rahman Khan’s arrest sends a chilling message to government critics – if you raise concerns about human rights, there will be serious consequences. He must be released immediately and unconditionally,’ said Abbas Faiz, Bangladesh researcher at Amnesty International.
‘Instead of punishing human rights defenders, the Bangladeshi authorities must address alleged violations by carrying out investigations and holding accountable those responsible.’
Odhikar reported that as many as 61 people had died during the May protests, but said it would not publish the list of the victims’ names, fearing it would put their relatives at risk.
‘It has instead called on the government to form a commission to carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the incident – a call echoed by Amnesty International and other international human rights organisations.’
‘Rather than investigating the dozens of deaths reported, the authorities have turned against the messenger, Odhikar,’ said Abbas Faiz.
‘This is in clear breach of the right to freedom of expression and makes a mockery of the Bangladeshi government’s pledges to other UN member states to uphold human rights.’
Different socio-cultural and political organisations in Dhaka also were demanding release of Adilur.
-With New Age input
