HOUSE RESOLUTION 64 PASSES OVERWHELMINGLY DEMAND TO DROP CHARGES AGAINST BANGLADESHI JOURNALIST NOW OFFICIAL US POLICY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2007
CONTACT: Richard L. Benkin, Ph.D.; +1-847-722-7917;
drrbenkin@comcast.net
Washington, March 13-In a rare show of
bi-partisanship, the US Congress today passed House Resolution 64. HR
64 makes it the “sense of the US Congress” that charges against
crusading Muslim journalist, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury be dropped
and all harassment against him ended. Choudhury is the Bangladeshi
Muslim jailed and tortured after exposing the rise of radical Islam in
Bangladesh, urging relations with Israel, and advocating interfaith
dialogue based on religious freedom. Though it earlier released him
from prison, the Bangladeshi government has pursued his prosecution on
charges of “sedition, treason, and blasphemy,” which carry a possible
death sentence.
Introduced by Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and co-sponsored by Rep.
Nita Lowey (D-NY), HR 64 passed the powerful House Committee on Foreign
Relations less than a month ago, picking up the official endorsement of
the State Department as it did.
In addition to Kirk and Lowey, Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), John
Boozman (R-AR), and Steve Chabot (R-OH) spoke on behalf of the measure.
Among other things, they referred to Bangladesh’s use of “harsh
interrogation techniques against Choudhury and the “politically
motivated” nature of the charges. They also tied action on the
Choudhury case to the greater war against extremism by the United
States and by Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh.
Choudhury watched the floor debate live from his home in Dhaka on www.cspan.org.
The events both touched and thrilled him and encouraged him that
justice will prevail in his case as well as those of others like him.
He also said that it will “help Muslims who oppose extremism to stand
up against it without fleeing to the West, since they know they will
have protectors.”
For further information, a translated text of the order, or
interviews with Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, contact Richard Benkin at
the telephone or email above.