Gay Muslim leader murdered in Bangladesh
Human rights activists call for quick, fair trial that reveals the motive.
JusticeMakers Bangladesh, a human rights organization in Bangladesh, has expressed grave concern over the recent murder of Maulana Jalal Uddin Jalali, 79, a gay Islamic religious leader allegedly stabbed to death in his home in Dhaka on April 20.
In Bangladesh, many individuals, including Islamic religious leaders, identify privately as LGBTQ+ but do not disclose their sexual orientation due to fear of backlash or personal safety concerns, JusticeMakers stated. LGBTQ+ Bangladeshis often face social stigma and discrimination, which can make it difficult for them to openly express their sexual orientation or gender identity.
JusticeMakers said that, according to reliable sources, Jalali was stabbed to death by his juvenile assistant, Quarnic Hafiz Hasan Ahmed, who has been arrested by the police. The accused claimed that he stabbed Jalali after an argument about his pay.
The police were able to arrest Ahmed within two and a half hours of receiving information about the murder, based on a bloodstain clue. The victim’s cousin filed a murder case against Ahmed.
Shahanur Islam, an attorney and founder secretary-general of JusticeMakers Bangladesh, condemned the murder and called for the safety and security of the LGBTQ+ community in Bangladesh.
He demands that the accused be punished according to the law after a speedy, transparent, and impartial trial that reveals the true reason behind the killing.
In addition, Shahanur Islam urged the government to stop blaming victimized gay people for incidents of violence or human rights violations against the LGBTQ+ community.
He also noted that murder of Jalali is not an isolated incident in Bangladesh and that the nation’s homosexual minority is subjected to various human rights violations, including discrimination, deprivation, torture, kidnapping, and injuries.
He called for constitutional recognition of homosexuals and the repeal of Section 377 of the Penal Code, as well as the enactment of a Homosexual Protection Act to protect the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination and violence.
