RSF demands release of journos sued over crimes against humanity, death of protesters

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned charges of crimes against humanity against at least 25 journalists including journalist couple Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, claiming it to be a “systematic judicial harassment of journalists.”

The charges were filed with the International Crimes Tribunal, a special court set up in 1973 to judge abuses committed during Bangladesh’s war of independence. 

“The purge of journalists who are considered to be affiliated with the former government has reached a new level. Media professionals are bearing the brunt of the need for vengeance that permeates this terrible legal cabal, which is hurting the image of the political transition underway in Bangladesh,” says Antoine Bernard, RSF’s Director of Advocacy and Assistance. 

“The interim authorities, headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, must do everything in their power to end this vicious process. Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed must be released immediately. All charges against journalists must be dropped.” Antoine Bernard added.

On Thursday (29 August), a complaint was filed with the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) accusing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 56 others, including 32 senior journos of committing crimes against humanity and conducting genocide during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement across the country.

Among senior journalists, former press secretary to prime minister Nayeemul Islam Khan; former information affairs adviser to prime minister Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury; former president of the National Press Club Farida Yasmin; former general secretary of the press club Shyamal Dutta; Editor-in-Chief of Ekattor TV Mozammel Babu; journalist Nobanita Chowdhury; former head of news of Somoy TV and current head of news of Ekhon TV Tushar Abdullah; Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam,  Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, former Samakal editor Abed Khan;  Head of News of ATN News Provash Amin; former Ekattor TV journalist Farzana Rupa;  former head of news at Ekattor TV Shakil Ahmed; Ekattor TV’s Head of Current Affairs Mithila Farzana; DBC editor Zayadul Ahsan Pintu, former editor-in-chief of ATN News Munni Shaha and others have been accused of instigation in the complaint.

As per the application, the accused have committed genocide and crimes against humanity by killing, torturing, and detaining innocent unarmed students by indiscriminate shooting with domestic weapons and firearms at the instigation and provocation, planning and direction of the defendants with the aim of completely or partially eliminating the anti-discrimination activists.