The People's Republic of Bangladesh went from being a secular state in 1971 to having Islam as the state religion in 1988.[1][2] Despite its state religion, Bangladesh uses a secular penal code dating from 1860—the time of the British occupation.[3] The penal code discourages blasphemy by a section that forbids "hurting religious sentiments."[4] Other laws permit the government to confiscate and to ban the publication of blasphemous material. Government officials, police, soldiers, and security forces may have discouraged blasphemy by extrajudicial actions including torture.[1][5][6] Schools run by the government have Religious Studies in the curriculum.[7]
- ^ a b "Bangladesh" (PDF). United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. May 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
- ^ "The Crime of Blasphemy (1)". Women Against Fundamentalism. n.d. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
- ^ In October and November 2005, Bangladesh experienced a wave of bomb attacks targeting judges. The attacks were accompanied by a demand from Islamic organizations that Bangladesh adopt Sharia in place of its secular penal code.[1]
- ^ "Strict blasphemy laws limit religious debate in Bangladesh". AsiaMedia. 18 May 2006. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
- ^ "Bangladesh: Tortured Journalist Describes Surviving Military Beatings". Human Rights Watch. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- ^ "Escalating Violence Threatens Press Freedom". Reporters Without Borders. 17 June 2002. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- ^ "Bangladesh". International Religious Freedom Report 2008. U.S. State Department. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search