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Thursday, April 18, 2013

[mukto-mona] Worldwide Protests for Free Expression in Bangladesh on April 25



Worldwide Protests for Free Expression in Bangladesh on April 25

Unprecedented Coordination between Nonreligious Groups to Show Solidarity, Call for Response

An international coalition of atheist and humanist organizations, led by the Center for Inquiry and our partners the International Humanist and Ethical Union and American Atheists, will protest the arrest and persecution of atheist bloggers and other dissenters in Bangladesh with demonstrations in New York, Washington, London, Ottawa, and other cities around the world on Thursday, April 25.�We want you to join us.

Bangladesh has recently been at the center of a human rights crisis as authorities have detained several prominent bloggers for �hurting religious sentiments,� followed by the arrest of a newspaper editor who printed quotations from the targeted bloggers, and two more young people for making �derogatory remarks� about Islam on Facebook. Tens of thousands of people have rallied in the country�s capital to demand more arrests, tougher blasphemy laws, and have threatened violence if their demands are not met by April 25.

These global demonstrations will be unprecedented for the freethought movement, as secularists around the world express their solidarity with those jailed for speaking their minds about religion. Protesters will draw the world's attention to the plight of those persecuted for exercising their rights to freedom of belief and expression, and attempt to spur the international community to take action and compel the government of Bangladesh to change course. Up-to-date information on protest events can be found at�bit.ly/defenddissent.

To help coordinate an event in your city,�contact cfe@centerforinquiry.net

�The events in Bangladesh are only the latest instance of a fierce global crackdown on �blasphemy,� with the criminalization of atheism and religious dissent,� said protest coordinator Michael De Dora, director of CFI�s Office of Public Policy. �To all those who believe that the freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, we call upon you to join us, religious believer and atheist alike. We can show those whose lives and freedoms are threatened that they are not forgotten, and send a message to these oppressive regimes that their abuses will not be ignored.�

Protest events are so far confirmed for the following cities on April 25, 2013:

USA

  • Washington, DC:�Embassy of Bangladesh, 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. 4:30 pm ET

  • New York City:�Office of the Consulate General of Bangladesh, 211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017. 4:30 pm ET
    Will begin at Grand Central Station, move to the consulate, and then the United Nations building

CANADA

  • Ottawa:�High Commission for Bangladesh, Constitution Square Centre, 340 Albert St, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7Y6. 4:30 pm ET

  • Calgary:�Consulate of Bangladesh, 633 6th Avenue South West, T2P 2Y6. 4:30 pm MT

UK

  • London:�Time and location TBA.

More cities and events to be announced at�bit.ly/defenddissent.

When tweeting about this event, use the Twitter hashtag�#DefendDissent.

Learn more about those persecuted for blasphemy and dissent at the Campaign for Free Expression,�www.centerforinquiry.net/cfe.

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
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"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it".
               -Beatrice Hall [pseudonym: S.G. Tallentyre], 190



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