We demand the immediate release of Cartoonist Arifur Rahman

I join Bangladeshi blogger Sourov’s call for the immediate and unconditional release of 23-year old cartoonist Arifur Rahman. Arifur Rahman was arrested by the Bangladesh military government for drawing a harmless cartoon that was published in the leading Bengali language newspaper Prothom Alo. He was not represented by any lawyer in court and sent to jail without any due process.

Reporters Without Borders has called for the immediate release of Arifur Rahman:

Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediately release of Arifur Rahman, a cartoonist with Aalpin, the daily newspaper Prothom Alo’s weekly satirical supplement. He was arrested at his Dhaka home on 17 September over a cartoon that was a play on the name Mohammed. The government’s press department said the cartoon "hurt religious sentiments." All copies of the supplement were seized. Prothom Alo apologised and fired the supplement’s deputy editor.

"The play on words had no intention of attacking the Prophet," Reporters Without Borders said "It was a joke about a cultural custom. The government should not yield to pressure from extremist leaders who are trying to politicise the case. Rahman should not be made a scapegoat. He must be freed."

I stand in solidarity with Arifur Rahman. He must be freed.

[Join the Facebook group Free Arifur Rahman]