When I started from my house for attending today's [March 12,
2008] court, I knew with all my heart that millions of my
friends, supporters, brothers and sisters around the world are
kindly praying for me.
US Embassy in Dhaka sent an observer to the court, while a
Political Officer [diplomat] from the European Union also kindly
attended the court. Both the observers very kindly arrived at the
court premises by 11:00 am as I suggested earlier. Anyway, I had
to be in the court from 9:00 am along with my lawyers, Advocate
Samarendra Nath Goswami, Advocate Govinda Chandra Pramanik,
Advocate Shubash Saha and Advocate Afsana. The judge did not sit
right on time at 9:00 am. Rather he came to the court at 12:00
noon and my case was this time put at the top of the list. The
judge was very much willing to begin hearing witnesses while the
Public Prosecutor told the court that none of the witnesses came
to the court to give witnesses. At this stage, the judge Mr.
Azizul Huq fixed April 15, 2008 as the next date to hear the
witness and instructed the prosecution side to send notice to the
witnesses to be present.
When I came out of the court, I was asked by a local reporter as
to why the witnesses are not coming while the government is not
dropping the charge. My reply was, the government wants to
appease the Islamists, so they are not going to drop the charges.
On the other hand, the reason behind absence of the witnesses
are:
1. In the charge sheet and the charge, it is clearly mentioned
that, I wrote an article titled 'Hello Tel Aviv', which was
published in USA Today in 2003. There are numerous quotes from
that article, and the Investigating Authority and the court are
convinced that there are ingredients of treason in that article.
But the fact is, I NEVER EVER WROTE ANY SUCH ARTICLE SO THERE IS
NO QUESTION OF IT BEING PUBLISHED IN USA TODAY. This is a
completely baseless allegation brought by the prosecution. The
government is well aware of non availability of any evidence
against such allegation.
2. In the CHARGE, the trial court observed that government agents
recovered a copy of speech; I was carrying to Israel for the
conference. The judge said, in that speech, I have forecasted
about existence of Jihadist training camps within Madrassas. In
the drafted speech, I also mentioned about existence of Islamist
militancy groups in Bangladesh. NOW FIRST OF ALL, THAT SPEECH WAS
NOT DELIVERED OR PUBLISHED, SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF BRINGING
ANY ALLEGATION ON AN UNDELIVERED SPEECH. SECONDLY EXISTENCE OF
ISLAMIST MILLITANCY GROUP IN BANGLADESH AND JIHADIST TRAINING IN
MADRASSAS ARE ALREADY PROVEN FACT.
So how the government or the prosecution shall be able to prove
the allegation of sedition, treason and blasphemy against me?
Now, they have opted for harassing me mentally and financially.
This is their clear intention.
May I humbly request you all to please consider the following
actions:
1. Chief of Bangladesh Army, General Moeen U Ahmed is
scheduled to visit United States in May this year. He is
intending to meet US policymakers. Prior to his trip, trend of
international press on situation in Bangladesh shall be closely
monitored by the relevant section in Army. Human Rights violation
is a major issue. If any of the newspapers, blogs, web portals,
news services, online newspapers will highlight my issue in next
several weeks, it will certainly leave a strong signal with the
Bangladeshi interim government and its ultimate driving force in
immediately dropping the false charges.
2. Letters from world policymakers, Senators, MPs,
Congressmen, Human Rights groups, lawyers, public
representatives, celebrities, Nobel laureates, editors,
journalists, business leaders, religious leaders, interfaith
groups etc., etc shall also leave a great positive impact. Each
of such letters may kindly be made available with the Bangladeshi
press.
3. In most of the letters, it may kindly be mentioned that I
received Freedom to Write Award in 2005 from PEN USA; Moral
Courage Award in 2006 from American Jewish Committee, Key to
Englewood City in 2007 from Esteemed Mayor Michael Wildes and
Monaco Media Award in 2007 from Prince Albert of Monaco.
My profound gratitude to you all and especially to Hudson
Institute [for helping me financially], Mr. Leslie Sacks [for
putting advertisements with Blitz], PEN USA, Prince Albert of
Monaco and everyone else who kindly bought my book, Injustice &
Jihad. Of course, very special thanks to my brother Dr. Richard L
Benkin and my beautiful Jewish family in Illinois.
MEANWHILE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THE ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ISSUED
BY US STATE DEPARTMENT.
Regards
Shoaib Choudhury
SALAH UDDIN SHOAIB CHOUDHURY
Journalist, Columnist, Author & Peace Activist
Editor & Publisher, Weekly Blitz 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
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