Bangladesh: Promote free speech, don’t restrain it
DHAKA, May 5 ( NsNewsWire) — Amnesty International in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Center hosted a campaign event of arts and performances in defence of freedom of expression in Dhaka today.
Vent House by Amnesty International brought together comedians, cartoonists, journalists, bloggers, musicians, poets, activists and live performance artists to promote freedom of expression and reflect on the role that the Government and people can play with respect to protecting this right.
“The event today is part of Amnesty International’s continued campaign for reclaiming freedom, which includes the right to freedom of expression in countries where people are met with heavy punishment for peacefully sharing opinions,” said Saad Hammadi, South Asia Campaigner of Amnesty International.
“People cannot freely express themselves without protection from the State. Censorship of information and the fear of reprisals dwindles quality of life, integrity and their accountability to the public,” said Saad Hammadi.
The first ever campaign event by Amnesty International in Dhaka, Bangladesh, held in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, reflected on the attacks on media and online platforms, intrusion of privacy and repressive laws which have been used against people’s legitimate rights to freedom of expression.
“When people don’t know what they say or write may constitute an offence, they will naturally be afraid to speak. Such feelings breed resentment, and are not healthy for a country’s social development. We have noticed that newspaper editors in Bangladesh have become extremely careful about publishing stories and editorials, and even refrain from publishing columns and stories due to fear of reprisals,” said Saad Hammadi.
The event also launched a hashtag campaign #YoursPeacefully to remind the government that peaceful exercise of freedom of expression must not be criminalized.
Celebrated photographer Shahidul Alam, standup comedians Yamin Khan and Ahmad Ashik, cartoonist Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, journalists Shuprova Tasneem, Ayreen Khan, Syed Tashfin Chowhdury, media personality Iresh Zaker, blogger and activist Fahmidul Haq, artists Liza Hasan, Reetu Sattar, Sayeef Mahmud and Aabir Khalid signed up for the Amnesty campaign event.
Performers and discussants also included Indigenous rights activist and musician Sham Sagor Mankin, singer and songwriter Armeen Musa and her band Ghashforing Choir, young poetry collective The Versemongers and activist Samina Luthfa Nitra.
Amnesty International has, in different parts of the world, been supported by a wide range of artists, including Coldplay, Russell Brand, Jimmy Carr, Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Stephen Colbert among a host of international artists in defence of freedom of expression around the world. The Dhaka event is the first time supporters and members of Amnesty International in Bangladesh have come together along with members of the international community. Press release