Two lesbian girls arrested in Bangladesh
Police apprehended the couple after a threatening crowd gathered to protest their wedding plans
Two teenage lesbians in Bangladesh have been arrested for being in a same-sex relationship and planning to get married.
Mahima and Rubina fell in love through Facebook and TikTok. When they got together in person on Jan. 3 in Rubina’s hometown of Brajbaksa in the Kalaroa area of western Bangladesh, their plans became public.
They were warned to abandon their marriage plans, but the girls remained steadfast in their commitment to each other, expressing their intention to build a life together working in garment factories, even referring to each other as husband and wife, according to the France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF).
A crowd gathered to protest against them. Rubina’s mother called police. The police intervened, arrested both girls on Jan. 4 and sent them to jail.
Subsequently, the mother worried about how her daughter was faring in custody.
“Rubina is my only child whom I dearly love. I faced immense difficulties trying to convince Mahima to return to her home in Sylhet, but she adamantly refused, insisting on staying with my daughter. Failing to persuade her, I resorted to informing the police. I am deeply worried about her well-being.”
JMBF expressed outrage at the arrests, stating, “These arrests, which occurred solely based on the girls’ sexual orientation and their same-sex relationship, are a grave violation of their rights and dignity.”
On March 12, attorney Shahanur Islam, founder/president of JMBF, demanded the release of Mahima and Rubina and the withdrawal of all charges against them.
JMBF stated: “The arrest of the two lesbian girls represents a blatant form of discrimination against sexual minorities, constituting a clear violation of constitutional and fundamental human rights as recognized by the United Nations. This incident, unfortunately, reflects a broader pattern of human rights abuses against sexual minorities in Bangladesh, including discrimination, violence, and baseless accusations.”
The organization advocates for the constitutional recognition of homosexuals and other LGBTQ+ people in Bangladesh. It demands the repeal of Section 377 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex relations, and the enactment of laws to safeguard the rights and dignity of individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.
To read JMBF’s full statement, click HERE.
