Cartoonist Arifur Rahman was arrested on September of 2007 and since then six month has past by, this young men remained in jail not for doing any crime but mullah Amini and his goons enjoy the free ride from the government machinery.
On Feb 4, the High Court ruled Arif's detention illegal and ordered his immediate release but law ministry of caretaker government gives a shit to what High Court has to say, therefore Arif remains behind the bar.
Dhaka, March 20 (bdnews24.com) – A Dhaka magistrate asked authorities Thursday to free Arifur Rahman, a former cartoonist of Bangla-language daily Prothom Alo who faces charges of 'hurting religious sentiment', lawyers said.
Magistrate Mosammat Ismat Ara made the order in the presence of the accused, after the plaintiff in the case had repeatedly failed to appear in court.
The magistrate, however, did not specify any timeframe for his release.
It is beyond my understanding why the Magistrate Mosammat Ismat Ara did not ordered for his immediate release but let the jail authority decide when to release? What will happen to this poor chap if authorities comply with the rule not before the final judgment day (doomsday)?
I hope government will have the guts to release the innocent men and not do "P" on their pants scaring the mullah's wrath. We demand immediate release of cartoonist Arifur Rahman prisoner of conscience according to the order of high court as well as magistrate court today
JUSTICE DELAYED JUSTICE DENIED
In typical circumstances I would be enthralled with plausible idea of getting justice by facing the law of the land. However, regrettably I cannot foresee the righteousness, uprightness impartial fairness from the judiciary of Bangladesh for a meager victim like Mr. Arifur Rahman against the mighty power of mullahs.
I see the guardian of judiciary repeatedly bow down in front of mullah Amni and his cowardly goons who take the house of worship Baitul Mukarrom in their backdrop to show their muscle then and now.
Government will not challenge these mullahs ever because they are much worried about anything that can undermine their power that they enjoy, giving justice for small victim like Arif is not in their long agenda. Political powers will not challenge them because they are scared of loosing popular support because of negative campaign that the mullah's will rage.
Why we! Why we the ordinary citizen will bow to their demand and become their prey again and again! We must defend our self when government fails to protect us even if that means to stand against the government to take them down we will do it.
Release cartoonist Arifur Rahman in next 24 hours
Regards
Shamim Chowdhury
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| Court orders release of cartoonist Arif | | | | Thu, Mar 20th, 2008 2:55 pm BdST | | |
Dhaka, March 20 (bdnews24.com) – A Dhaka magistrate asked authorities Thursday to free Arifur Rahman, a former cartoonist of Bangla-language daily Prothom Alo who faces charges of 'hurting religious sentiment', lawyers said.
Magistrate Mosammat Ismat Ara made the order in the presence of the accused, after the plaintiff in the case had repeatedly failed to appear in court.
The magistrate, however, did not specify any timeframe for his release.
The latest court order came approximately two months after the High Court declared Arif's detention illegal.
The cartoonist's arrest and detention since last September has also earned criticism from local and international rights groups.
Plaintiff Md Jane Alam, also the officer-in-charge of Tejgaon Police Station, has not appeared before the magistrate's court since the end of November, 2007.
Tejgaon police sub inspector Md Abdur Rouf submitted a report to the court Thursday in which he mentioned that the plaintiff has been in East Timor since Nov 28 and for that cause had failed to appear in court.
The counsels for the plaintiff were also absent in court Thursday.
The magistrate said: "The plaintiff has not appeared in court despite repeated notices to probe the charges against the accused."
"After reviewing an appeal by the defendant for his release the court thinks his (Arif's) plea can be approved."
Security officials arrested Arif on Sept 18 after hard-line Islamic groups protested against one of his cartoons that they claimed mocked the Prophet Muhammad.
Authorities charged the young cartoonist with "hurting the religious sentiments of the people" and ordered 30 days' detention.
Arif's detention was later extended by three months.
The government confiscated all copies of the now-defunct satire magazine of Prothom Alo titled Alpin in which the cartoon was printed.
Amid a protest by Islamic groups, Prothom Alo's editor and publisher apologised for printing the cartoon, and fired the cartoonist.
On Feb 4, the High Court ruled Arif's detention illegal and ordered his immediate release.
In January, global human rights watchdog Amnesty International demanded Arif's release, terming him "a prisoner of conscience".
bdnews24.com/pb/ff/ra/jr/rah/1449hours | |
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