[Even in neighbouring India rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare's killers remain to be apprehended, let alone tried and convicted.]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/UK-based-Bangla-bloggers-get-online-threats-daily/articleshow/47486632.cms UK-based Bangla bloggers get online threats daily Priyanka Dasgupta,TNN | May 31, 2015, 05.15 AM IST KOLKATA: Arifur Rahman's Facebook profile picture is a self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh and the cover photograph reads 'I Am Not Afraid'. He is not, so what if he occupies the numero uno position on the hit list of atheist bloggers identified by extremists in Bangladesh. A British citizen of Bangladeshi origin and a computer engineer by profession, 37-year-old Rahman shifted to London in 2007. Last month, Scotland Yard got in touch with him to check if he was taking precautions. After death threats to blogger Ananya Azad, Rahman is cautious, more so about 'Facebook terrorism'. Speaking exclusively to TOI from London, Rahman said: "These extremists are finding loopholes in Facebook guidelines and using that to deactivate our accounts where we used to post our views. Mails are sent to members on how to have our accounts deactivated. They celebrate once the mission is accomplished." To explain his point, Rahman forwarded one such instruction mail to TOI that read thus: "Select 'I think it shouldn't be on Facebook' and then press continue. Then select 'It's threatening, violent or suicidal' and press continue. Then select 'It's threatening or violent' and select submit to Facebook for review." Rahman first reported to the cops around April 2013 when leaflets were being circulated against the Shahbagh movement's atheist bloggers in East London. "Last month, Scotland Yard Counter Terrorism Command came to my residence, registered my number with them and asked if I was taking precautions. I came to realize that most of the 'seemingly secular-minded friends', who are supporters of the ruling Awami League party, will compromise with Islamists in general. The threat from Islamists and lack of support from these friends made me re-think about the world we live in," he said. Rahman has shifted residence since 2013, reduced his public profile, remains cautious while visiting places where a high concentration of 'Bangladeshi Muslims' is anticipated. "Islamists have collected data about my parents in Bangladesh. They aren't safe there. I no longer worry about my own life. I believe in what Stephane Charbonnier, the slain editor of Charlie Hebdo, said: 'I'd rather die standing than live on my knees'," he said. Cops offered a panic alarm to Rahman which he decided not to use. "That's because I believe if I'm attacked, it will be so fast that I won't get time to press the alarm. While using the Tube in London, I don't walk to the station. I ride a bicycle. That ensures fast movement," he said. With death staring in the face, Rahman recalls how he had met blogger Avijit Roy just an hour before the latter was lynched on the streets of Dhaka. "All these bloggers have been killed in full view of people. Yet, the Bangladesh government hasn't caught anyone. I know about the plight of bloggers Ananya Azad and Monir Hussain in Bangladesh. The government isn't doing a thing. We were creating a strong atmosphere by writing. Today there is an effort to silence bloggers," he said. For two years now, another London-based Bangladeshi blogger -- Sushanta Das Gupta -- is under protection of London Metropolitan Police. His name, too, figures on the hit list. "The London Met police has given me a crime reference number and asked me to use it in case I need to call the cops. I have been provided with a panic alarm though I haven't used it yet," Das Gupta said. A civil engineer, 38-year-old Das Gupta is the science and technology secretary of London Metropolitan Awami League Unit. "I get 5 to 10 online threats daily. London is safer than Bangladesh but it's not completely safe. There are loads of extremists in London as well. Whenever I am in a public space, I am always surrounded by my friends and family. I don't walk alone. Cops have advised me to change my route frequently and not to use the same mode of transportation. I've installed CCTV in my office," he said. The fear factor is very real, and it looms large. But neither Rahman nor Das Gupta will give up writing. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
