Salahuddin Shoaib Chaudhury


I've just written a letter to Peter MacKay, the minister of Foreign Affairs. It's about Bangladeshi journalist Salahuddin Shoaib Chaudhury who is on trial for sedition, blasphemy and espionage. The actions which led to these charges, which may result in his execution, appear to have been urging dialog with Christians and Jews and writing about the rise of violent religious extremism in his homeland.

Terry Glavin is blogging about Chaudhury and urging his readers to write to the ministers, high commissioners and politicians in Bangladesh and Canada who might have some influence in the case. The US embassy has already played a positive role by sending an observer to Chaudhury's bail hearing. Terry thinks Canada, and Canadians, should do more. As usual Terry is very persuasive.

MacKay should be asked to intervene on humanitarian grounds and also on the grounds that Mr. Chaudhury's treatment is in clear violation of Section 19 of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And when you write to the Bangladeshi High Commissioner, be sure to keep a civil tongue in your head.

So come on, you slackers. Remember Manik, and start writing.


Got to go. Got more letters to write.

Posted: Sat - October 14, 2006 at 03:44 PM          

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