IHEU (International Humanist and Ethical Union) is just one of many organisations expressing grave concern about the treatment of atheist bloggers in Bangladesh:
Debate between secularists (committed to separation between state and religion) and Islamists, is not unusual in Bangladesh, especially online. But the debate has now warped into open persecution. As our statement on the arrests made clear, the cause of the escalation is political. The Islamist parties are lashing out after the secular Shahbag movement, which was organised by the bloggers, demanded justice over war crimes committed by leading Islamist figures during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
Mukto-Mona is a freethinking blogging network, two of whose Bangla members are among the bloggers arrested. The founder of the group told us: “Government thinks that if they put several freethinking bloggers in jail, it will keep the fundamentalists happy for the time being. The government has taken this easy route to appease a handful of mullahs whose support they need to win the upcoming election.”
This means that not only are bloggers being targeted as atheists, the campaign is also a ploy on the part of the Islamist opposition parties, and the rights and freedoms of the non-religious are being used like cards in the hand of the government, to be played however it best suits them.
Government has given a mixed message. The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has reiterated that Bangladesh is a constitutionally secular country and said,“Bangladesh does not need laws against blasphemy.” However, she also said that “existing laws are enough” because “If anybody tried to hurt any sentiments of any religion or any religious leader, there is a law. We can take any action.”
The full list of demands by conservative group Hefazat can be read here.