Bangladesh activists protest same-sex wedding arrests, face death threats
Human rights defenders in Bangladesh have secured the release of two young women who were arrested for getting married to each other, but their advocacy for LGBTQ rights has made them the target of homophobic death threats.
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The advocates’ human rights organizations issued this statement:
BIHR and JusticeMakers Bangladesh are concerned over the harassment of four lesbian girls at Jamalpur
Human rights organization Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and JusticeMakers Bangladesh have expressed extreme concern and protest over the harassment of four young lesbian girls for declaration of marriage with same-sex in Sarishabari under Jamalpur district.
BIHR and Justicemakers Bangladesh believe that the harassment of four homosexual youth girls on charge of marry with same-sex is a clear violation of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
The news published on September 21, 2022 in various newspapers including the online version of Ekatar TV, Daily Jugantar and BanglaNews24.com stated that a girl married another girl in Hatbari village of Doyle Union in Sarishabari, Jamalpur. Local peoples have handed over two young girls and their two accomplices to the police on charges of same-sex marriage.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, the interviews of the two young girls were taken in the presence of hundreds of local people, including Doyle Union Parishad Chairman Abdur Razzak Swapan, at Dudu Mia’s house in that village. Later, the chairman talked to the locals and handed over the four girls to Sarishabari police station.
It is known that the 18- and 17-years old girl and the teenager were formed a close relationship due to studying in the same school. At some point they got involved in a homosexual relationship. After dating for three years, they decided to get married. They recently got married with their two other lesbian friends as witnesses.
Advocate Shahanur Islam, Secretary General of Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and JusticeMakers Bangladesh, has strongly protested the harassment of four young lesbian girls on charges of same-sex marriage at Jamalpur.
Mr. Islam also urges to identify and give exemplary punishment to the culprits who were responsible for the violation of the fundamental human rights of the young homosexuals lesbian girls after prompt and proper investigation.
Furthermore, Mr. Islam believes that four lesbian young girls were forced to reveal their private secrets in front of hundreds of local people, which violated their fundamental human rights, such as their right to privacy.
Advocate Shahanur Islam has also demanded the speedy release of detained homosexual youths, providing them with proper security and adequate compensation.
Results of their advocacy: Young women freed
Shahanur Islam reports: The latest status of the incident is that the Sarishabari police station released those girls without implicating any cases due to conducting my continuous lobbying and advocacy to release those lesbian girls.
Results of their advocacy: Death threats
In addition, Shahanur Islam received death threats in late August and early September. The Bangladesh newspaper Soja Kotha reported:
Bangladeshi Human Rights Lawyer Shahanur Islam Received Repeated Death Threats
Shahanur Islam, a prominent human rights lawyer and gay rights campaigner in Bangladesh, received repeated death threats SMS over his mobile phone.
Recently on 25th August and 6th September 2022, he received separate two death threats messages along with his wife and kid over his mobile phone.
On 25th [August] 2022 around at 10:17 pm BST, Mr. Islam received threats message in English language over his phone from an unidentified number. The message states that if you don’t stop fighting aims to establishment of homo sexual rights in BD, immediately you will be killed along with your family members brutally.
On 8th September 2022 around at 1:07 pm BST, Mr. Islam received another death threats SMS in Bengali over his mobile phone from an unidentified number. The threatening message states that do you
have no fear of death? This county is only for Islam. There is no space for homosexual people in this country. If you don’t stop to support homosexual people and continue your activities to establish rights of them, we ‘ii not take time to send you in to the hell along with your wife and kid. Still there is time, be well!”
This is not the first time intimidation he faces. Mr. Islam has previously received threats, death threats, physically assaults as well as been repeatedly implicated in false and fabricated cases due to his strong advocacy against social injustice and religious extremism as well as ensuring rights of ethnic, religious and sexual (LGBT) minority people in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and JusticeMakers Bangladesh gravely concern over the recent death threats of Mr. Islam and his family members. BIHR and JusticeMakers Bangladesh urge ensuring the protection of Mr. Shahanur Islam including his al family members as well as ensure the exemplary punishment of against the culprit after a quick and impartial investigation.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh Trust (JM Bangladesh) was founded in 2010 by a group of young, energetic and experienced lawyers and social workers in the field of human rights in Bangladesh. It works to promote human rights and ensure the respect and realization of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the fundamental provisions of the Constitution of Bangladesh as well as providing humanitarian assistance to victims of violation and discrimination.
Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) promotes human rights and assists victims of human rights violations, including torture and discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex or age.
