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Attack on Ahmadiyyas
HR bodies to form human shield to resist bigots

Human rights organisations will form a human shield to prevent the International Khatme Nabuwat Movement Bangladesh from attacking the Ahmadiyyas at Dhanikhola of Trishal in Mymensingh on February 10.

At least 13 organisations will participate in the programme, said Sharif Kafi of Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre (BDPC), one of the participants, at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday.

The other organisations are Naripokkho, Ain O Salish Kendra, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Nijera Kori, Bangladesh Manabadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha, ActionAid Bangladesh, Sammilito Samajik Andolon, Nari O Manabadhikar Foundation, Bangladesh Coalition for Child Rights, Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs, Odhikar, and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust.

Expressing deep concern over the Khatme Nabuwat declaration of attacking the Ahmadiyyas of Dhanikhola, the rights groups urged the government to take appropriate measures so that the attackers cannot enter within 10 kilometres of the area on February 10.

In a written speech, Sharif said the Khatme Nabuwat demonstration in Mymensingh city on February 3 demanding declaration of the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslims is a threat to the freedom of speech, democracy and the sovereignty of the country as the constitution ensures religious freedom in the land.

Referring to the previous Khatme Nabuwat attacks on the Ahmadiyyas at various places of the country, he said the women and children were the prime victims of the attacks.

“Beating up innocent people, especially women and children, injuring them and threatening them with rape are extreme violation of human rights,” he said.

The human rights organisations at the press conference demanded exemplary punishment to the planners of the attacks on Ahmadiyya women and children and called upon all people of Mymensingh to take part in the human shield on that day.

The rights groups said the Khatme Nabuwat attacks on the Ahmadiyyas are destroying the tender democracy of the state and introducing the country as a fanatic one abroad.

Ajay Roy of Sammilito Samajik Andolon said, “The human shield at Dhanikhola is not a counterattack on the Khatme Nabuwat; it is an effort to save the Ahmadiyya community.”

Source: www.thedailystar.net/2006/02/08/d60208011814.htm