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Drishtipat,
an expatriate Bangladeshi organization committed to
safeguarding every individual's basic democratic and
human rights rights, expresses its grave concerns
over recent development
concerning the religious freedom and the security
of the Ahmadia community in Bangladesh.
Drishtipat calls upon the Government of People's Republic
of Bangladesh to clarify that it will not engage in
the business of declaring members of some community
as "non-Muslims" and that it will guarantee
that bigots and mobsters are not able to seize the
houses of worship belonging to the Ahmadia community.
It has been reported in various Bangladesh newspapers
that mobsters in Tejgaon, Dhaka organized by an anti-Ahmadi
group gave the Government a one-week ultimatum to
declare followers of the Ahmadia
community as "non-Muslims."
Drishtipat reminds the Government of Bangladesh of
its obligations to uphold the Constitution of the
People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
adheres to the principles of equality before law and
non-discrimination on grounds of religion. The relevant
clauses (in Part III, Fundamental Rights Articles
27 and 28 of the Constitution of Bangladesh) state:
"All citizens are equal before law and are entitled
to equal
protection of law," and "The State shall
not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only
of religion, race caste, sex or place of birth."
Article 18 of the United Nations' Universal Declaration
of Human Rights stipulates: "Everyone has the
right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
this right includes freedom to change his religion
or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community
with others and in public or private, to manifest
his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship
and observance."
Drishtipat maintains that the citizenship rights,
including that of religious freedom and free speech,
of the Ahmadias or anyone else, should not be contingent
on their religious and theological beliefs. It would
be abhorrent if the Government of Bangladesh succumbs
to the demands of bigots calling for a particular
community to be labeled as "non-Muslim."
It would be a grave breach of the Constitution of
the People's Republic of Bangladesh and fundamental
human rights
The Bangladesh authorities need to ensure that any
activities to incite violence and take over the property
of a religious community are stopped. Protecting the
rights of all religious communities in Bangladesh
is a primary responsibility of the Government of Bangladesh
and it is hoped that the concerned authorities will
reject unlawful demands of bigots and prevent their
attempts to illegally seize the property of any religious
community.
Dirshtipat will actively monitor developments concerning
this issue. It also shall be in consultation with
Bangladeshi human rights organizations and international
human rights organizations.
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Public Document
Drishtipat,
11 December 2003
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