Atheist-feminist Talsima Nasrin is once again the target of Muslim death threats and charges of "blasphemy." Her crime? The heroic writer spoke out on behalf of rights for women, and the replacement of religious rule in Muslim societies by an enlightened secular code. Like the Rushdie affair, the case of Taslima Narsin raises questions about the ability of Islam to live peacefully in a growing secular world.

n Bangladesh, Islamic militants are rioting in a call for the arrest and execution of Taslima Nasrin (Nasreen), feminist, atheist and novelist following her return to her native land two weeks ago.

Writer TASLIMA NASRIN is once again the target of Islamic death threats. Nasrin has spoken out on behalf of rights for women, and the replacement of religious law by secular institutions.

    In 1994, the government ordered her detention following complaints about the publication of "Nirbachinto Kolumn," ("Selected Column"). A state court charged her with "deliberately and maliciously hurting Moslem religious sentiments," and Islamists took to the streets in massive, often violent protests against the author. Nasrin fled to Sweden, and then traveled throughout the United States and Germany. A subsequent book, "Lajja" ("Shame") also drew the wrath of Moslems, and the volume was banned in Bangladesh. In "Shame," Nasrin again criticized the Islamic view of women, and defended the right to practices such as sex outside of marriage. Contrary to the claims of Moslem fundamentalists, she did not call for a rewriting of the Koran, but stated that religious doctrines should be replaced by civil codes as the guiding principle of any enlightened society.

    Even in self-imposed exile, Nasrin has continued to write and edit literary works. She is a member of the Voltaire Society in France, and continues to speak out against religious violence and the oppression of women. Nasrin returned to Bangladesh about two weeks ago to be with her mother who is reportedly ill. Our latest information is that Nasrin has so far successfully evaded a police hunt for her, but her return is again fueling militant Moslems who are taking to the streets in large numbers. Last week, a court again order her arrest, and the seizure of her property. 3,000 angry Muslims rallied in the capital of Dhaka last Friday; the secretary-general of the Islamic Unity Alliance, Moulana Fazul Huq, told the mob, "Grab that infidel and put her to death... She (Nasrin) is a Satan who has dared to speak against Islam and its Prophet Mohammed." Banners at the rally read "Kill the murtad (infidel)" and "There is no place for her in Bangladesh or on earth."

   Islamists are organizing another demonstration for this Sunday, October 4. According to a report from Reuters news service, they intend to "lay siege to Dhaka's Home Ministry Building ... if Nasreen (sic) has not been arrested by then."

AN OPEN LETTER TO SUPPORTERS
FROM TASLIMA NASRIN

(Editor's note: The following was sent to us by Warren Allen Smith, who maintains a web site pertinent to Ms. Nasrin's case. Visit http://idt.net/~wasm/nasrin.htm for more information. This communique was dated Wednesday, September 30.)

    Dear friends:

    I was desperate to see my mother who is dying. Even though the government did not want me to go to Bangladesh, I went. Soon after my coming, the news broke that I had arrived. The religious fundamentalists immediately started their protests. They are demanding my execution by hanging. More or less every day thousands are out in the streets, making demonstrations and processions against me. In the meantime an old case emerged which was filed 4 years ago for my book Nirbachito Columns, on the charge of hurting the religious feelings of the people. The court issued an arrest warrant against me and ordered the seizing of my property. The case is nonbailable. I am in hiding now, if I am arrested I will be put in prison. If I still try to go to court for bail, nothing is safe from me (sic).

    On the 4th of October the fundamentalists will block the Home ministry and demand my death. They have already created a general strike in a city called Sylhet. The fundamentalists in Bangladesh have planned more future actions such as a Long march and nationwide general strike to paralyze the whole country. If the government fails to arrest and hang me, then the fundamentalists have declared that they must kill me.

   So, in this desperate situation, being with my sick mother, I need protection. If the democratic governments of the world request the Bangladesh government to ensure my security, drop the case issued against me and will allow me to leave the country when I want in order to save my life, it would be a great comfort to me.

   Thank you for your support and solidarity.

   Taslima Nasrin

[text only]