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Richard
L. Benkin is an
independent author and activist. He has penned manuscripts on
the Temple Mount; East European Jewish Life; and Miriam, the
true hero of Exodus. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of
Pennsylvania and lives with his wife and daughter in suburban
Chicago.
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By Richard L. Benkin November
17, 2006
The fight to save anti-Islamist journalist
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has entered a new and critical
stage. Having put its lot with Islamist radicals and now
finding itself held hostage by them, the government of
Bangladesh put Choudhury on trial for "sedition, treason, and
blasphemy," for which he could be put to death if convicted.
"If convicted" is rather perfunctory since the judge
in the trial has sole discretion over Choudhury's fate and has
made his intentions clear. He is associated with radical
Islamist parties in Bangladesh and has already said that he is
"not interested in evidence." He has also said that "by
praising Christianity and Judaism, [Choudhury] has harmed
Islam."
By exposing the growing Islamist threat in
Bangladesh and advocating that Bangladesh establish relations
with Israel, according to this judge, he has offended the
sentiments of Muslims. The judge also said that he will not
allow any defense witnesses to be placed
into the court
record.
After months of difficult negotiations, it
appeared by the summer of 2006 that the Bangladesh government
understood it to be in their country's interests to drop the
charges against Choudhury. Several of its leading officials
had already admitted that the capital charges were false; but
they all said they could not drop them because "they were
afraid how the [Islamist] radicals would react." That referred
both to radical parties in the ruling coalition and to voters
in the upcoming January elections. Thus, they embarked on a
convoluted process that would result in the charges being
dropped in accordance with legal procedures; and, contrary to
their previously empty assurances, this one, it appeared, they
were be following throughout the summer. But in September,
Judge Mohammed Momin Ullah ruled that Choudhury would be tried
for these crimes, despite the fact that the Public Prosecutor
testified that there was no evidence to support the charges
and the government would not object to them being dropped.
International outrage, however, seems to be getting
the better of the government, as on November 13 it postponed
Choudhury's next court date until 2007. That would take the
onus off the current government and leave it with the new
government that will take over after elections-and not have to
worry about radical voters for another five years. It also
gives us more time to fight this injustice.
The US
Congress re-convened that same day. The next day-its first
full day back in session-US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) who
has been Choudhury's champion in the Congress, introduced a
Resolution urging the Bangladeshis to drop the false charges
and end all other forms of harassment against Choudhury. Rep.
Nita Lowey (D-NY) co-sponsored the Resolution with him.
The following day, every member of Congress was
notified about the bill and urged to support it. "Congress
must send a clear message: we cannot allow moderate voices in
the Muslim world to be silent.
While House Resolution
1080 does not contain specific sanctions against the
Bangladesh government, it sets the stage for them (Kirk had
already secured language in an appropriations bill that
associated aid to Bangladesh with justice in this case.)
Moreover, it places in the official record that the
Bangladeshi government is wrong to persecute someone for
advocating relations between Jews and Muslims, between
Bangladesh and Israel; that the Bangladeshi government has
lied repeatedly and that their statements cannot and will not
be trusted; and that the same government is engaged in a
pattern of persecution. Perhaps most significantly, it puts to
rest once and for all, the disingenuous assertion by
Bangladeshi officials that the nation does not have a problem
with radical Islamists.
The resolution and attendant
attention (the Wall Street Journal carried an editorial
supporting the resolution the day after it was introduced)
seems to be working. Choudhury's police protection at his
house, which was removed more than two weeks ago mysteriously
re-appeared after the resolution was introduced; and
Choudhury's challenge of his case's legality to the High
Court, which was originally assigned to another hard line
radical judge, was switched to a more moderate one and given a
hearing.
But Choudhury's defenders will not be
satisfied with half measures. The next step would be to cut or
hold up the US's $63 million appropriation to Bangladesh; and
there already has been considerable talk in the US about not
buying Bangladeshi garments, on which that economy is totally
dependent.
People who are citizens of the United
States should act immediately and encourage their
Congressional representatives to Support House Resolution
1080. They should also encourage everyone they know to do the
same. Kirk's staff will be working on lining up co-sponsors
and supporters over the next two weeks. If the member of
Congress has received a communication from a constituent, it
will make support of the resolution close to a certainty.
For those who do not have a way to make that contact,
they can go to our web site, www.InterfaithStrength.com and
click on the instructions that will take them to the American
Jewish Committee's web site where they can do it in a few
clicks.
There is a quote at the top of
that web site: "If the Choudhurys were in Europe during the
Holocaust, they would have refused to drive the trains."
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has stood up for us at
considerable peril; now it is up to us to stand up for him.
Views expressed by the author do
not necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
    
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