Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 10, 2008 0:03:00 GMT
SALAH UDDIN SHOAIB CHOUDHURY, The enlightened editor and publisher of this online newspaper in Bangladesh, is right now being held on trial there. His crime? -
He advocates interfaith understanding, which is disliked by
the Bangladeshi authorities,
2. He condemns culture of Jihad and militant Islam
[Bangladeshi authorities already said through its advisor
Barrister Moinul Hussein that Dhaka is no more a partner in war
on terror],
3. He demands relations between Bangladesh and Israel [Dhaka continues total ban on Israel].
The Bangladeshi authorities however have concocted charges against him, and which you can see below have no proof to substantiate them.
So what we have is a hero standing up against a tyrranical regime and highlighting the evil and hypocrisy of this state, yet the media in the free world - or what we like to think of as such, has made little or no mention of the plight of their fellow journalist. One would think that our press would champion the cause that this fellow stands for - yet their silence is deafening. How quick they are to vilify politicians who fail to speak out against corrupt and oppressive states who act against human rights, yet they themselves are guilty of the same.
Truly Sickening and shameful!
Here's the most recent communique from this brave journalist.
He advocates interfaith understanding, which is disliked by
the Bangladeshi authorities,
2. He condemns culture of Jihad and militant Islam
[Bangladeshi authorities already said through its advisor
Barrister Moinul Hussein that Dhaka is no more a partner in war
on terror],
3. He demands relations between Bangladesh and Israel [Dhaka continues total ban on Israel].
The Bangladeshi authorities however have concocted charges against him, and which you can see below have no proof to substantiate them.
So what we have is a hero standing up against a tyrranical regime and highlighting the evil and hypocrisy of this state, yet the media in the free world - or what we like to think of as such, has made little or no mention of the plight of their fellow journalist. One would think that our press would champion the cause that this fellow stands for - yet their silence is deafening. How quick they are to vilify politicians who fail to speak out against corrupt and oppressive states who act against human rights, yet they themselves are guilty of the same.
Truly Sickening and shameful!
Here's the most recent communique from this brave journalist.
ANATOMY OF MY CASE
The trial already began on August 6, 2008 and continued on the
next day. As you may know by now, on Thursday my lawyers cross
examined the plaintiff of the case, Mohammed Abdul Hanif, former
officer-in-charge of Airport Police Station. The next dates are
August 31 and September 1, 2008 for cross examination. There are
20 witnesses in this case, all fixed by the government.
Generally, I have to appear in the court by 9:00 am on the court
dates and stay till 4-5 pm. Accused are not allowed to sit in the
court rooms, thus are forced to stand for hours and of course
sweat in the extreme hot weather. There is no fan at the waiting
portion of the court rooms. Moreover, I am not allowed to drink
water, eat anything, unless the trial is over.
On Wednesday, when I went to the court, I was having high fever
[103 degree] and severe headache and pain in other parts of the
body. So, I went inside the court room and sat at a back bench
which is fixed for generally members of press [as you know, I am
a journalist too]. But, the additional Public Prosecutor after
seeing me asked the police to drive me out of the court room. He
was making jokes.
As you know, I am facing sedition, treason and blasphemy charges.
The charge was framed on 13.11.2006, where the judge said:
"I, Md. Momin Ullah, Metropolitan Session Judge do here by accuse
you Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury for the following reasons:
The State Prosecution has brought allegation against you, Salah
Uddin Shoaib Choudhury stating that, being the editor and owner
of Blitz newspaper, you sent an article titled 'Hello Tel Aviv'
to USA Today newspaper published from Washington. Furthermore, in 2003, while attempting to travel to Israel to attend a conference titled 'Education Towards Culture of Peace, organized between 1st December to 3rd December 2003, you appeared at the Zia International Airport on the 29th November 2003 and the Immigration police arrested you and found the copy of the speech you prepared to deliver in the conference. In that speech, you have made offensive comments on Muslim world, Islam and Muslims in Bangladesh and commented about existence of Al Qaeda and other Islamist militant groups, by which you have tarnished the image of Bangladesh in the outside world. Furthermore, you have made conspiracy of spreading anti-state news through that speech and you by sending that speech to outside world, you have played offensive role to Bangladesh's security, public discipline and adverse role towards Bangladesh's relations with the outside world. In you report, you have mentioned about guerilla training in the Bangladeshi madrassas, by which you have influenced the religious sentiments and made imaginary stories abroad about jihadist training in favor of Laden, Arafat and Saddam, by which you have put Bangladesh's foreign relations to threat and through this you have caused offense under Penal Code Section 505 (A), 295 (A) and 120 (B).
The allegations were read before the accused and he claimed to be innocent (not guilty) and prayed for justice.
Md. Momin Ullah
Metropolitan Session Judge"
Please note here, although the judge refers to an article titled
'Hello Tel Aviv', which was reportedly published in USA Today, in
reality, there is no such existence of any article, nor did I ever write any article for USA Today. The entire case is based on
mere imagination of the police, investigation officer and Bangladeshi authorities. Main reason behind their anger is, I am promoting interfaith understanding, demanding relations between
Bangladesh and Israel and confronting radical Islam as well as oppose Holocaust Denial.
As per my own assessment, the trial will conclude in next 2-3 months. If the judge will convict me, Section 120 [Sedition] bears capital punishment [death penalty]. On the other hand, he may convict me for life term or for several years. +] will continue my mission.
Weekly Blitz, which is the only Zionist newspaper in the Muslim
world [www.weeklyblitz.net] shall continue its mission. Because
of our editorial policy confronting radical Islam and culture of
Jihad, local businessmen refrain from advertising in Blitz. But,
some of my friends abroad, occasionally accord support to this
newspaper through advertisement.
What are the legal points in the case in my favor?
1. The Prosecution does not have any evidence of any
article titled 'HELLO TEL AVIV', as it does not exist,
2. The Prosecution does not have the airline ticket they
claim to have been issued by Biman Bangladesh Airlines [National
Flag Carrier of Bangladesh] for Bangkok-Tel Aviv-Bangkok route,
3. The Prosecution claims that I made phone calls and
received fax from Israel. But, in reality, telecommunication link
between Bangladesh and Israel does not exists till date,
4. The speech [which was prepared for the conference]
contains information on rise of Islamist militant groups in
Madrassas, which has already been proved in Bangladesh after the
countrywide bomb blasts in August 2005 [by JMB].
WHAT ARE THE POINTS AGAINST ME?
1. I advocate interfaith understanding, which is disliked by
the Bangladeshi authorities,
2. I condemn culture of Jihad and militant Islam
[Bangladeshi authorities already said through its advisor
Barrister Moinul Hussein that Dhaka is no more a partner in war
on terror],
3. I demand relations between Bangladesh and Israel [Dhaka
continues total ban on Israel].
My profound gratitude to the esteemed members of US Congress,
European Parliament and Australian Senate for passing
bills/resolutions in my favor. I am particularly obliged to
Congressman Mark Steven Kirk, Professor Irwin Cotler, Rep. Nita
Lowey, Rep. Steve Rothman, Bret Stephens [Wall Street Journal],
Nina Rosenwald [Hudson Institute], David Harris & Yehudit Barsky
[AJC], Gary Rosenblatt [Jewish Week], HRH Prince Albert of
Monaco, Susan Rosenbluth [Jewish Voice & opinion], Michael Freund [JPOST] and of course to my Jewish brother Dr. Richard l Benkin, my sister-in-law Barbara Benkin and niece Sara Benkin for their kind and continuous support.
Please pray for me. I shall be mostly occupied in court
appearances from August 31 2008.
May G-d bless you all!
Shoaib
SALAH UDDIN SHOAIB CHOUDHURY
Journalist, Columnist, Author & Peace Activist
Editor & Publisher, Weekly Blitz www.weeklyblitz.net
<http://www.weeklyblitz.net/>
PEN USA Freedom to Write Award 2005; AJC Moral Courage Award 2006
Key to the Englewood City, USA [Highest Honor] 2007; Monaco Media Award, 2007
The trial already began on August 6, 2008 and continued on the
next day. As you may know by now, on Thursday my lawyers cross
examined the plaintiff of the case, Mohammed Abdul Hanif, former
officer-in-charge of Airport Police Station. The next dates are
August 31 and September 1, 2008 for cross examination. There are
20 witnesses in this case, all fixed by the government.
Generally, I have to appear in the court by 9:00 am on the court
dates and stay till 4-5 pm. Accused are not allowed to sit in the
court rooms, thus are forced to stand for hours and of course
sweat in the extreme hot weather. There is no fan at the waiting
portion of the court rooms. Moreover, I am not allowed to drink
water, eat anything, unless the trial is over.
On Wednesday, when I went to the court, I was having high fever
[103 degree] and severe headache and pain in other parts of the
body. So, I went inside the court room and sat at a back bench
which is fixed for generally members of press [as you know, I am
a journalist too]. But, the additional Public Prosecutor after
seeing me asked the police to drive me out of the court room. He
was making jokes.
As you know, I am facing sedition, treason and blasphemy charges.
The charge was framed on 13.11.2006, where the judge said:
"I, Md. Momin Ullah, Metropolitan Session Judge do here by accuse
you Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury for the following reasons:
The State Prosecution has brought allegation against you, Salah
Uddin Shoaib Choudhury stating that, being the editor and owner
of Blitz newspaper, you sent an article titled 'Hello Tel Aviv'
to USA Today newspaper published from Washington. Furthermore, in 2003, while attempting to travel to Israel to attend a conference titled 'Education Towards Culture of Peace, organized between 1st December to 3rd December 2003, you appeared at the Zia International Airport on the 29th November 2003 and the Immigration police arrested you and found the copy of the speech you prepared to deliver in the conference. In that speech, you have made offensive comments on Muslim world, Islam and Muslims in Bangladesh and commented about existence of Al Qaeda and other Islamist militant groups, by which you have tarnished the image of Bangladesh in the outside world. Furthermore, you have made conspiracy of spreading anti-state news through that speech and you by sending that speech to outside world, you have played offensive role to Bangladesh's security, public discipline and adverse role towards Bangladesh's relations with the outside world. In you report, you have mentioned about guerilla training in the Bangladeshi madrassas, by which you have influenced the religious sentiments and made imaginary stories abroad about jihadist training in favor of Laden, Arafat and Saddam, by which you have put Bangladesh's foreign relations to threat and through this you have caused offense under Penal Code Section 505 (A), 295 (A) and 120 (B).
The allegations were read before the accused and he claimed to be innocent (not guilty) and prayed for justice.
Md. Momin Ullah
Metropolitan Session Judge"
Please note here, although the judge refers to an article titled
'Hello Tel Aviv', which was reportedly published in USA Today, in
reality, there is no such existence of any article, nor did I ever write any article for USA Today. The entire case is based on
mere imagination of the police, investigation officer and Bangladeshi authorities. Main reason behind their anger is, I am promoting interfaith understanding, demanding relations between
Bangladesh and Israel and confronting radical Islam as well as oppose Holocaust Denial.
As per my own assessment, the trial will conclude in next 2-3 months. If the judge will convict me, Section 120 [Sedition] bears capital punishment [death penalty]. On the other hand, he may convict me for life term or for several years. +] will continue my mission.
Weekly Blitz, which is the only Zionist newspaper in the Muslim
world [www.weeklyblitz.net] shall continue its mission. Because
of our editorial policy confronting radical Islam and culture of
Jihad, local businessmen refrain from advertising in Blitz. But,
some of my friends abroad, occasionally accord support to this
newspaper through advertisement.
What are the legal points in the case in my favor?
1. The Prosecution does not have any evidence of any
article titled 'HELLO TEL AVIV', as it does not exist,
2. The Prosecution does not have the airline ticket they
claim to have been issued by Biman Bangladesh Airlines [National
Flag Carrier of Bangladesh] for Bangkok-Tel Aviv-Bangkok route,
3. The Prosecution claims that I made phone calls and
received fax from Israel. But, in reality, telecommunication link
between Bangladesh and Israel does not exists till date,
4. The speech [which was prepared for the conference]
contains information on rise of Islamist militant groups in
Madrassas, which has already been proved in Bangladesh after the
countrywide bomb blasts in August 2005 [by JMB].
WHAT ARE THE POINTS AGAINST ME?
1. I advocate interfaith understanding, which is disliked by
the Bangladeshi authorities,
2. I condemn culture of Jihad and militant Islam
[Bangladeshi authorities already said through its advisor
Barrister Moinul Hussein that Dhaka is no more a partner in war
on terror],
3. I demand relations between Bangladesh and Israel [Dhaka
continues total ban on Israel].
My profound gratitude to the esteemed members of US Congress,
European Parliament and Australian Senate for passing
bills/resolutions in my favor. I am particularly obliged to
Congressman Mark Steven Kirk, Professor Irwin Cotler, Rep. Nita
Lowey, Rep. Steve Rothman, Bret Stephens [Wall Street Journal],
Nina Rosenwald [Hudson Institute], David Harris & Yehudit Barsky
[AJC], Gary Rosenblatt [Jewish Week], HRH Prince Albert of
Monaco, Susan Rosenbluth [Jewish Voice & opinion], Michael Freund [JPOST] and of course to my Jewish brother Dr. Richard l Benkin, my sister-in-law Barbara Benkin and niece Sara Benkin for their kind and continuous support.
Please pray for me. I shall be mostly occupied in court
appearances from August 31 2008.
May G-d bless you all!
Shoaib
SALAH UDDIN SHOAIB CHOUDHURY
Journalist, Columnist, Author & Peace Activist
Editor & Publisher, Weekly Blitz www.weeklyblitz.net
<http://www.weeklyblitz.net/>
PEN USA Freedom to Write Award 2005; AJC Moral Courage Award 2006
Key to the Englewood City, USA [Highest Honor] 2007; Monaco Media Award, 2007