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Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was
imprisoned for 17 months after being charged with sedition on November
29, 2003. The Bangladeshi journalist put himself in a highly precarious
position by openly advocating relations between Israel and Bangladesh,
along with all Muslim nations.
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By Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
June 6, 2005
Upon my release from prison, I told my colleague, Dr. Richard Benkin,
that if we can realize the goals that landed me there, "my 17-month
incarceration would be worth it." Those goals were an open and unbiased
flow of news about Israel to Bangladesh, increased relations between
Israel and Muslim nations, and the elimination of hate toward the
Jewish people in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the non-Arab Muslim world.
While the world focuses on high-profile peace-making efforts, even
without addressing the ongoing anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish
socialization at the root of the conflict, there are clear signs that
real bridges are being built with Israel here in Bangladesh and
elsewhere.
Previously, the people of Bangladesh received only anti-Israeli
news, and certainly nothing about the tiny openings of interfaith
dialogue between Jews and Muslims. That began to change recently with
the appearance of such pieces in the pages of Dhaka daily Amader Shomoy. Amader Shomoy is published in Bangladesh's vernacular language of Bangla, and now to a limited extent in English as well.
News of US Rabbi Marc Gopin's appearance on Damascus television as
part of an interfaith discussion caused quite a stir. When news of
Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom's visit to Mulsim Mauritania followed
the next day, it became the talk of the Dhaka press community. Amader Shomoy
editor Nayeemul Islam Khan said that his paper was swamped with phone
calls about these and other articles of Benkin's. More surprising, the
calls were overwhelmingly positive. Bangladeshis wanted to know more!
"Traditionally," Benkin told me, "anti-Israeli partisans framed the
dispute in such a way that any contact with Israelis or even
pro-Israeli idea, was tantamount to abandoning support for Arab
Palestinians. It was defined as a betrayal."
The new freer flow of information is beginning to change that,
because Bangladeshis do not have to engage in this new sort of contact
and change their basic assumptions about things at the same time. It
also allows political leaders to follow democratic principles that
ultimately are in the best interests of their constituents.
Until now, most reporting on Israel and the Jewish people in Muslim
countries nourished a culture of hatred. Many of the western news
agencies reinforced that culture. Their news about Israel in the Muslim
world, surprisingly appeased the radicals. The practice, unfortunately,
continues despite attempts by many Muslims to increase their people?s
access to free information. I asked a journalist working with an
internationally acclaimed wire service the reason behind this notorious
tendency. He responded that the news is a business, which leads them to
cater to popular emotion, selecting only those elements that conform to
mass sentiment. He acknowledge that such practices only increase the
gap that has "unfortunately" been created between religions, as noted
by Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Moshed Khan recently. But he did not
see his editors changing their policy anytime soon.
Khan has consistently spoken out against any rapproachment between
Bangladesh and Israel but noted on his recent return from Washington
that his country is ready to work closely with the United States in
ending the division of the world in the name of religion. This is a
very positive signal from Bangladeshi policy makers, as they consider
withdrawing the ban on travel to Israel with the introduction of
digitized passports this year. Other government authorities are
studying the Gulf States-Israel relation as a possible model to follow.
Previously withheld news of Israeli relations with several Arab and
Muslim countries has encouraged many of us in Bangladesh. Published
statements by Libyan leader Gaddafi's son and positive signs from
conservative Muslim countries like Pakistan and Indonesia, has brought
us hope, as well.
Most Bangladeshi leaders, aside from some avowed radicals, favor
Dhaka-Jerusalem relations as is. They have said privately that the lack
of Bangladesh-Israel relations only strengthens the radical forces that
they both recognize as threats to global peace. Bangladesh is an active
participant in the war on terror, and many of its leaders are asking if
their traditionally blind allegiance to Arab policies harms that effort
and the people of Bangladesh.
Because Bangladesh is a democracy, its leaders must be cognizant of
the popular will, which makes the role of the media critical. Most of
the Bangladesh media, however, remains hostile towards Israel and the
Jews. We don't expect them to become overnight Zionists, but we should
expect open and unbiased news. Chicago based contributor, Benkin has
been able to crack that iceberg with his articles, and is not receiving
the same opposition that greeted my own Weekly Blitz after it
published Bangladesh's first pro-Israeli news in 2003. If that trend
continues and spreads to the rest of the non-Islamist Bangladeshi
media, we can expect the government to proceed with stunning changes in
its policies, beginning with removal of the travel ban to Israel later
this year.
Ultimately, it is the people of Bangladesh who will benefit the most.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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HAVE THE COURAGE OF YOUR CONVICTIONS!
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/06/2005 13:26 IT)
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I applaud the heroism of Mr. Choudhury
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/06/2005 13:28 IT)
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Kudos
BenYaakovKoppel
- NJ, U.S.A
(06/06/2005 14:07 IT)
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"Open Dialogue"
Sharonkerr
- Fergus, Canada
(06/06/2005 16:59 IT)
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RE:'Open Dialogue'
RedSniper
- Toronto, Canada
(06/06/2005 19:04 IT)
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RE:RE:'Open Dialogue'
wharold
- Dar al-Harb (Calgary), Canada
(06/06/2005 20:59 IT)
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Sharon & Her New "Friend"
sanguine
- U.S.A
(06/07/2005 01:08 IT)
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Basic freedoms
BitterSweet
- Other
(06/07/2005 02:20 IT)
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Sorry..
BitterSweet
- Other
(06/07/2005 02:23 IT)
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RE:Sharon & Her New 'Friend'
Sharonkerr
- Fergus, Canada
(06/07/2005 05:06 IT)
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Sanguine's Descent
behit1
- U.S.A
(06/07/2005 05:11 IT)
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The High Seas Adventures of the Wet Diapered One
sanguine
- U.S.A
(06/07/2005 05:44 IT)
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Sounds very encouraging
Cynthia7
- U.S.A
(06/07/2005 06:00 IT)
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Sanguine's Descent is earned
wharold
- Dar al-Harb (Calgary), Canada
(06/07/2005 06:14 IT)
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RE:Sanguine's Descent is earned
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/07/2005 06:53 IT)
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One Sanguine's funniest lines (05/06)
sanguine
- U.S.A
(06/07/2005 07:48 IT)
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Sanguine's Descent is earned/Wharold
MattyGroves
- Afghanistan
(06/07/2005 14:40 IT)
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RE:Sanguine's Descent is earned/Wharold
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/07/2005 15:48 IT)
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RE:RE:Sanguine's Descent is earned/Kosherkop
MattyGroves
- Afghanistan
(06/07/2005 16:50 IT)
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RE:RE:Sanguine's Descent is earned/Wharold
sanguine
- U.S.A
(06/07/2005 17:03 IT)
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RE:RE:RE:Sanguine's Descent is earned/Kosherkop
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/07/2005 17:08 IT)
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Kosherkop...
MattyGroves
- Afghanistan
(06/07/2005 17:27 IT)
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Traify the Court Eunuch .. How's your tutu?
sanguine
- U.S.A
(06/07/2005 17:43 IT)
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RE:X4 Sanguine's Descent is earned/Kosherkop
MattyGroves
- Afghanistan
(06/07/2005 18:18 IT)
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RE: Sanguine's Descent is earned/Kosherkop
wharold
- Dar al-Harb (Calgary), Canada
(06/07/2005 18:56 IT)
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RE:RE: Sanguine's Descent is earned/wharold
MattyGroves
- Afghanistan
(06/07/2005 19:20 IT)
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RE:RE: Sanguine's Descent is earned/Kosherkop
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/07/2005 19:25 IT)
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Pardon the confusion
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/07/2005 19:33 IT)
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For the Love of Zion PART I
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/07/2005 20:45 IT)
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RE:For the Love of Zion PART II
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/07/2005 21:14 IT)
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RE:RE:For the Love of Zion PART II
sanguine
- U.S.A
(06/08/2005 15:18 IT)
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SANGUINE AND NICOLAS
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/08/2005 20:54 IT)
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RE:SANGUINE AND NICOLAS
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/08/2005 21:35 IT)
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NICOLAS
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/08/2005 22:40 IT)
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kosherkop
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/08/2005 23:13 IT)
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Nicolas, I appeal to you again
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/09/2005 07:04 IT)
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kosherkop
wharold
- Dar al-Harb (Calgary), Canada
(06/09/2005 07:34 IT)
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RE:kosherkop
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/09/2005 07:52 IT)
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RE:kosherkop 1
wharold
- Dar al-Harb (Calgary), Canada
(06/09/2005 18:48 IT)
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RE:kosherkop 2
wharold
- Dar al-Harb (Calgary), Canada
(06/09/2005 20:17 IT)
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RE:Nicolas, I appeal to you again
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/09/2005 22:58 IT)
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RE:RE:Nicolas, I appeal to you again
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/10/2005 01:38 IT)
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RE:RE:kosherkop 2
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/10/2005 01:54 IT)
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Who knew? Bangladesh?
Petras
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 01:55 IT)
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re: Nicholas for the love of Zion
Petras
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 02:31 IT)
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RE:RE:RE:Nicolas, I appeal to you again
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/10/2005 02:46 IT)
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RE:re: Nicholas for the love of Zion
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/10/2005 03:06 IT)
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RE:RE:RE:RE:Nicolas, I appeal to you again
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/10/2005 03:54 IT)
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RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Nicolas, I appeal to you again
sanguine
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 05:00 IT)
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To the Editor
lindaR
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 07:04 IT)
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RE:To the Editor
wharold
- Dar al-Harb (Calgary), Canada
(06/10/2005 08:42 IT)
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RE:RE:To the Editor
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/10/2005 12:30 IT)
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RE:To the Editor
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/10/2005 12:39 IT)
|
What have we here, fighting Jews?
Petras
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 15:49 IT)
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kosherkop, remember?
Petras
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 15:51 IT)
|
Petras, remember?
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/10/2005 16:27 IT)
|
kosherkop re: Petras, remember?
Petras
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 17:24 IT)
|
re: kosherkop
Petras
- U.S.A
(06/10/2005 17:26 IT)
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RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Nicolas, I appeal to you again
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/11/2005 00:07 IT)
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RE:Petras, remember?--> koshercop!
Nicolas
- Victoria, Canada
(06/11/2005 02:47 IT)
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Petras
lindaR
- U.S.A
(06/11/2005 06:30 IT)
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The end of a love affair
kosherkop
- Canada
(06/11/2005 12:40 IT)
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Mr. Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, a Hero
tor_abba
- Dhaka, Other
(03/20/2006 10:19 IT)
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