Please save the humanist writers and bloggers of Bangladesh

The Issue

Hi,

I have started this petition to the US President for using the power of his office to save the nonviolent humanists of Bangladesh. This petition is important not only for Bangladesh, as Islamic fanaticism is a cause for alarm to humanity everywhere in the world. For example, the USA had to open the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11 due to this menace.

Humanist writers and bloggers are being brutally murdered in Bangladesh with impunity by Islamic extremists. The government is neglecting to prosecute the criminals, due to its unwillingness or fear of the increasing Islamic fanaticism in the country. Islamic extremism is the cause of serious sufferings and deaths of nonviolent humanity in many parts of the world, including the USA. Thus, it is imperative that the power of the US president be on the side of the humanists who seek a just and peaceful Bangladesh and world.

I appeal to everyone to sign this petition. Thank you in advance.

The Petition:

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Subject: Petition for saving the humanist writers and bloggers of Bangladesh

Dear Mr. President:

As a humanist and as a US citizen, I would like to bring to your attention the murders of several humanist writers, including a US citizen, in Bangladesh recently.

On May 12, 2015, a 30 years old young man, named Ananta Bijoy Das, was hacked to death by four assailants in the town of Sylhet in Bangladesh. In the last few months, similar gruesome deaths were caused to 26 years old Washiqur Rahman Babu on March 30, 2015, 43 years old Dr. Avijit Roy on February 26, 2015, and 48 years old Dr. Shafiul Islam on November 15, 2014. In 2013, Asif Mohiuddin and Ahmed Rajib Haider were similarly attacked. Mr. Mohiuddin survived the attack, but Mr. Haider was dead in front of his house with his mutilated body that was almost unrecognizable to his friends.

Two of the murderers of Mr. Babu were caught red-handed by the public, and they claimed to be members of Ansarulla Bangla Team, an Islamic outfit. They admitted the killing, and declared that they did it because the victim had humiliated their prophet. The other murderers are also suspected to be Islamic extremists, and their purpose was to protect their religion. Recently the Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent has claimed responsibility for the murder of Dr. Roy.

All the victims were rational thinkers, humanists, and defenders of the rights of all humans. Mr. Das was a popular science writer who wrote several books on biology and evolution. Dr. Roy was a US citizen of Bangladesh origin, a popular science writer, a scientist, an engineer, and an information technology expert. He wrote ten books on a range of subjects, and established the secular humanist internet blog called the Mukto-Mona (Free-Thinkers). None of the victims hated the Muslims by any means. However, they did promote common sense looks at Islam and other religions, so that people would not hate other people for religions. With their rational minds, they obviously were atheists or agnostics.

What is most frightening is that the government of Bangladesh is not serious about finding the murderers and bringing them to justice. None of the murderers has seen justice yet. The government has failed to follow up with the leads that were obtained from the two arrested assailants of Mr. Babu. The police are still clueless as to who murdered Dr. Roy, in spite of the crime having been committed near a police patrol in a crowded street of the capital. As per a Reuters report dated May 11, 2015, Sajeeb Wazed, the son and special advisor of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister was clear that the government did not “want to be seen as atheists” and could not publicly sympathize with the family of Dr. Roy, including his wife, Bonya Ahmed, who was seriously injured in the attack that killed him.

Thus, the free-thinking humanists in Bangladesh have virtually no protection from the Islamic extremists, who could commit their atrocious crimes with impunity.

Mr. President, under the circumstances, I would like to urge you to use the power of your office to save the nonviolent humanists of Bangladesh, who have been writing for justice and peace for all kinds of people in the world.