Bangladesh court jails two Hindu teachers for criticising Islam

[Zabaniyah]

I understand what you are saying, but such a stand by the state doesn't solve anything, or improve the situation, it only leads to more fundamentalism and more intolerance towards the 'other'. I will tell you how..



What angers people?

Today some people are angry with the atheist views that goes against their religion..

Tomorrow some people will be angry with women not wearing burqa, going out alone for education and jobs, etc., as that might go against their religion, at least as per their understanding of it..

A day after some people might think that men not keeping beard, singing, dancing, flying kite, watching movie or sports, clapping, or maybe not offering namaz 5 times a day is an insult to their religion..

Today some people are angry with the atheists, tomorrow they will get angry with the mere existence of religious minorities..

Then some people will get angry at the other sects of their co-religionists, Shias, Sufis, maybe Ahmediyas also if you consider them Muslims..

There is no end to it, and once the 'angry folks' get habituated to have their way because state is soft on them, there is no stopping. All of these mentioned above have already happened somewhere in the world, partially in Bangladesh also. Radicalization doesn't happen in a day, it happens over a period in step by step, either with active state participation or by passive encouragement of the state...going soft on the fundamentalists, moreover, punishing the 'other' to please the fundamentalists IS passive state encouragement.

You see anywhere, giving importance to 'nuisance value', submitting to the demands of a bully never cured any problem, it only emboldened the nuisance maker and the bully...and radicalized fellows with machetes and majority fundamentalism (or fascism) is far serious threats than the nuisance makers and the bullies.

America was quite educated a few decades back when racism and brutal discrimination against its black people was rampant, today America is one of the most liberal, secular, and safer country for the minorities, both religious and colour, because the state was strict and hard against such attitude of its majority whites. Had America decided to pander to the demands of their majority white population and waited for peoples' minds to change and reform on their own, then today its black population would have remained slaves and white supremacists organization would have been running the show there.

Or take the example of Turkey, today it is one of the most progressive Muslim nation, starkly different from its neighbourhood, because Ataturk made strong liberal laws and implemented them strictly, he didn't allow religion and its laws to dictate the government, had he waited for the people to change, then Turkey would have remained another typical ME country. It's different that now Erdogan wants to change Turkey to a more Islamic nation.

There is a concern both inside and outside Bangladesh that radicalism is rising there, it is because the state has allowed it the space.....



This part really stumped me...you don't protect the minorities and atheists by making laws against them, you just allow crude majoritarianism to flourish for your own political benefits.

Did you make up those theories yourself, or recently read up some fairy tale you were told by some old fart?

Bad naming Islam in whatever name or form will threaten the current secular government's hold on to power - Guaranteed. A lot of money and hard work was involved in putting the current party in power. And if you are a good and patriotic Indian, you'd comply.

Antagonizing Islam would be like antagonizing over 140 million people. And no government in the world can control or contain that kind of opposition and expect to remain in power. Get that into your mind.

 

[dray]

Did you make up those theories yourself, or recently read up some fairy tale you were told by some old fart?

Bad naming Islam in whatever name or form will threaten the current secular government's hold on to power - Guaranteed. A lot of money and hard work was involved in putting the current party in power. And if you are a good and patriotic Indian, you'd comply.

Antagonizing Islam would be like antagonizing over 140 million people. And no government in the world can control or contain that kind of opposition and expect to remain in power. Get that into your mind.

I have already said that Bangladesh government (whosoever is in power) is being soft on fundamentalists for political reasons. And my predictions are verifiable with time, just wait and watch.

 

[Zabaniyah]

I have already said that Bangladesh government (whosoever is in power) is being soft on fundamentalists for political reasons. And my predictions are verifiable with time, just wait and watch.

And your 'predictions' suppose to prove...what? It doesn't matter how many fundamentalists are behind bars or executed. Sheikh Hasina had worked hard for that, and where she is now. I mean, you'd say the same thing under the current circumstances.

The only way for free thinking and opinions to flourish is through ensuring the development of democracy.

 

[dray]

And your 'predictions' suppose to prove...what? It doesn't matter how many fundamentalists are behind bars or executed. Sheikh Hasina had worked hard for that, and where she is now. I mean, you'd say the same thing under the current circumstances.

The only way for free thinking and opinions to flourish is through ensuring the development of democracy.

I am not talking about Sheikh Hasina or her government, I am questioning the law of the land that sends its citizen, that too a science teacher, to jail for just saying that there is no god and no heaven. I consider that as pandering to the fundamentalists and opined that such laws only embolden the fundamentalism and brute majoritarianism, and makes a society even more fundamentalist over the time. I know that Sheikh Hasina and her party is relatively more benign than Khaleda Zia and her party, but that is not the topic here, the question is if such laws do more harm than good in the longer run, or not...

 

[livingdead]

I am not talking about Sheikh Hasina or her government, I am questioning the law of the land that sends its citizen, that too a science teacher, to jail for just saying that there is no god and no heaven. I consider that as pandering to the fundamentalists and opined that such laws only embolden the fundamentalism and brute majoritarianism, and makes a society even more fundamentalist over the time. I know that Sheikh Hasina and her party is relatively more benign than Khaleda Zia and her party, but that is not the topic here, the question is if such laws do more harm than good in the longer run, or not...

thats the law of the land. We have silly beef ban laws, and they got their silly blasphemy laws...

 

[24 Hours]

I understand what you are saying, but such a stand by the state doesn't solve anything, or improve the situation, it only leads to more fundamentalism and more intolerance towards the 'other'. I will tell you how..



What angers people?

Today some people are angry with the atheist views that goes against their religion..

Tomorrow some people will be angry with women not wearing burqa, going out alone for education and jobs, etc., as that might go against their religion, at least as per their understanding of it..

A day after some people might think that men not keeping beard, singing, dancing, flying kite, watching movie or sports, clapping, or maybe not offering namaz 5 times a day is an insult to their religion..

Today some people are angry with the atheists, tomorrow they will get angry with the mere existence of religious minorities..

Then some people will get angry at the other sects of their co-religionists, Shias, Sufis, maybe Ahmediyas also if you consider them Muslims..

There is no end to it, and once the 'angry folks' get habituated to have their way because state is soft on them, there is no stopping. All of these mentioned above have already happened somewhere in the world, partially in Bangladesh also. Radicalization doesn't happen in a day, it happens over a period in step by step, either with active state participation or by passive encouragement of the state...going soft on the fundamentalists, moreover, punishing the 'other' to please the fundamentalists IS passive state encouragement.

You see anywhere, giving importance to 'nuisance value', submitting to the demands of a bully never cured any problem, it only emboldened the nuisance maker and the bully...and radicalized fellows with machetes and majority fundamentalism (or fascism) is far serious threats than the nuisance makers and the bullies.

I have to agree with Loki, bad naming Islam in a Muslim majority country is just asking for it. And I think you're going to fast on a slippery slope there. Insults literally just me you can't bad mouth the religion. I'll admit though in this case the criticizing part is a bit murky. But, I digress, not wearing a burqa, not doing namaz, and what not falls under ones personal religious life style. In addition, what you say will only happen if this was meant just for Muslims alone. But, this is not the case, Hindus and other minorities are not under Muslim personal laws nor, is their religion allowed to be insulted. None the less, the people who commit murder were the ones who drew first blood and should be prosecuted and brought to justice. Too bad our police force and justice system are not what I would call adequate. There was a good NY times article that explained this, I'll see if I can find it later.

It's true radicalism grows in a step by step process, but so does de-radicalizing. You can't just make reforms right of the bat, it needs to be a moderate process.

America was quite educated a few decades back when racism and brutal discrimination against its black people was rampant, today America is one of the most liberal, secular, and safer country for the minorities, both religious and colour, because the state was strict and hard against such attitude of its majority whites. Had America decided to pander to the demands of their majority white population and waited for peoples' minds to change and reform on their own, then today its black population would have remained slaves and white supremacists organization would have been running the show there.

Keep in mind the US was founded in 1776, slavery wasn't abolished till 1865. And the Civil Rights act that ended much of the racial discrimination didn't happen until 1964. And even then, racial discrimination was still around for a couple of decades. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is a very young country, not even 50 years old. Also, America also had a religious programs attached to it. There was a time where you couldn't teach evolution in public schools. When John Lennon once said The Beatles were "bigger than Jesus" he got a lot of Christians in the US really mad. To the point they burned their records. Even now there are still fundamentalist Christians in the US government that still have a strong voice in politics like James Inhofe.

Or take the example of Turkey, today it is one of the most progressive Muslim nation, starkly different from its neighbourhood, because Ataturk made strong liberal laws and implemented them strictly, he didn't allow religion and its laws to dictate the government, had he waited for the people to change, then Turkey would have remained another typical ME country. It's different that now Erdogan wants to change Turkey to a more Islamic nation.

There is a concern both inside and outside Bangladesh that radicalism is rising there, it is because the state has allowed it the space.....

This part really stumped me...you don't protect the minorities and atheists by making laws against them, you just allow crude majoritarianism to flourish for your own political benefits.

Bangladesh never had a leader like Ataturk, Mujib was the closest thing but, he wasn't as effective as Ataturk was. In addition Turks were able to put their religion first before country, something which the majority of Bangladeshis Muslim or not, just don't do. The political environment is just like that in the country, it's the best way for now.

 

[dray]

thats the law of the land. We have silly beef ban laws, and they got their silly blasphemy laws...

HC has already declared that law unconstitutional, it was silly but it's not going to stay.

 

[livingdead]

HC has already declared that law unconstitutional, it was silly but it's not going to stay.

well bd does not have strong independent judiciary now, bd is going through an era that we saw during IG's emergency period. everybody is doing haan ji... jee madamji ... opposition sidelined..

 

[dray]

well bd does not have strong independent judiciary now, bd is going through an era that we saw during IG's emergency period. everybody is doing haan ji... jee madamji ... opposition sidelined..

Blasphemy law in Bangladesh was not introduced by Sheikh Hasina. Opposition didn't even contest the election, it was their mistake.

 

[livingdead]

Blasphemy law in Bangladesh was not introduced by Sheikh Hasina. Opposition didn't even contest the election, it was their mistake.

sk hasina is pandering to right because she is getting ready for next election.. the judges are her henchmen.

 

[Super Falcon]

Bangladesh court or authority jailed them. How can Bangladesh jail them?
Somedays before similar incident happened somewhere else, probably Comilla.
Why all Hindu teachers going gaga all of a sudden collectively?

Send packet of more money to haseena they get free she already on Indian payroll chill

Soon Bangla will be full of Hindus once operation cleaning Muslims over she do

 

[Al-zakir]

A Maloon head teacher was beaten by public for criticizing Allah and rasool (s.a,a.s). Shabbash

 

[24 Hours]

View attachment 305129

A Maloon head teacher was beaten by public for criticizing Allah and rasool (s.a,a.s). Shabbash

Supporting mob mentality?
You're a pathetic, little man.

 

[Zabaniyah]

But, this is not the case, Hindus and other minorities are not under Muslim personal laws nor, is their religion allowed to be insulted. None the less, the people who commit murder were the ones who drew first blood and should be prosecuted and brought to justice. Too bad our police force and justice system are not what I would call adequate. There was a good NY times article that explained this, I'll see if I can find it later.

It's true radicalism grows in a step by step process, but so does de-radicalizing. You can't just make reforms right of the bat, it needs to be a moderate process.

Pretty much that. The lack of accountability in this country at this moment is just staggering.

The murders of Avijit Roy (who was a US citizen) and Xulhaz Mannan drew the attention of the U.S. I found the discussion between our honorable PM and Ms. Biswal interesting. Funny as to the way that rat is trying to appease our honorable PM.
http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/us-ready-help-fight-terror-1219444

There appears to be little understanding and effective communication between the law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh and the ones abroad (particularly the US). The exact reasons for which are unknown at this point. Strangely, reactions from countries important to Bangladesh are near identical. Does anyone find these puzzling or is it just me?

What's more, these incidents or anything remotely related to Islam in Bangladesh appeared in the mainstream international media. Even the murder of the Hindu tailor in a remote Bangladeshi village appeared on CNN. I wonder if Tonu had been a Hindu, would that had been on the media as well?

The actual problem in Bangladesh is not being properly propagated - Of that is certain.

View attachment 305129

A Maloon head teacher was beaten by public for criticizing Allah and rasool (s.a,a.s). Shabbash

Grow up will you?