Bangladeshi Writer Seeks Free Movement

December 20, 2007

NEW DELHI (AP) — Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin, who fled death threats in her home country, complained Friday that the Indian government was not allowing her to meet friends or travel outside the Indian capital.

"I want to live a normal life here. I've everything except freedom of movement," Nasrin told The Associated Press.

Nasrin has been hiding in New Delhi since last month after a violent protest by a Muslim group forced her to flee her home in Calcutta. The group, All India Minorities Forum, accused her of insulting Islam in her writings.

"They want to protect me. But they can always provide me with security when I go out," she said.

"I've a cell phone, Internet, but not freedom of movement. That's not helping me at all. I can't concentrate on my work," she said.

Nasrin said she wants to continue living in India.

"I love India and I know that people of India want me to live here," she said.

Last month, Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India would provide shelter to Nasrin, adding that the country expected guests to refrain from activities and expressions that may hurt the sentiments of the people.

In August, angry Muslim protesters attacked Nasrin in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad while she was attending the release of her book "Shodh" (Getting Even) in the local Teulgu language. She escaped unhurt.

She left Bangladesh in 1994 after Islamic extremists threatened to kill her. The death threats came after an Indian newspaper quoted her as saying changes must be made to the Islamic holy book, the Quran, to give women more rights.

She has vehemently denied making the comments but still faces threats against her life from Islamic hard-liners in Bangladesh, where one of her books is banned.

In 2004, the Bangladeshi government banned her Bengali-language book "Shei Shab Andhakar" ("Those Dark Days") for what it said were objectionable comments about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

Nasrin lived in Sweden for several years but eventually moved to India. She has applied for Indian citizenship or permanent residency.

Bangladeshi Man Granted Refugee Status in Australia

GAY REFUGEE CELEBRATES VISA VICTORY by Harley Dennett

From the Sydney Star Observer - Sept. 6, 2007

Bangladeshi gay activist Motahar Hussein appears set to receive an Australian protection visa after the Refugee Review Tribunal accepted he was homosexual and faced persecution in his home country.

The hearing last Friday came after almost three years of fighting for asylum, including two previous tribunal hearings and a federal court appeal.

“On the whole the tribunal is homophobic, but on this instance they accepted I was homosexual and I would face persecution if sent back,” Hussein told SSO.

An openly gay activist, Hussein came to Australia on a student visa in 2001 with the intention of seeking asylum. He came to the attention of immigration officials after failing to pay his university fees.

He told SSO he feared jail time under the Bangladesh legal code, which prohibits “unnatural acts” including advocacy of gay rights.

Hussein remains on a bridging visa and cannot work until the ruling is finalised, but he and his supporters celebrated at the weekend after what they called a clear victory for queer refugees.

Greens MLC Sylvia Hale gave evidence on Hussein’s behalf and housed him over the last few months after he was granted the bridging visa earlier this year.

“I was happy to do so. He’s an asset to the community because he’s prepared to be involved in movements like gay rights,” Hale said.

“He doesn’t have an overtly gay relationship, which could cast doubt on his bona fides, but I am aware of the pressure that detention had had on him.

“It’s difficult enough for people to come out in a relatively open society such as Australia, let alone under the pressures of a Muslim or Islamic community.”

Hale said there was considerable evidence of Hussein’s activism that would be difficult to hide. Recently two former Bangladeshi leaders were jailed for political activity.

A number of supporters from Community Action Against Homophobia also gave evidence at last Friday’s hearing.

“It’s a pity the RRT rulings don’t create legal precedence because this would help all the queer refugees,” CAAH spokeswoman Rachel Evans said.

CAAH is also campaigning for queer refugee applicant Ali Humayun to be released from mandatory detention until his case against the Immigration Department is heard in the Supreme Court later this month.

Egyptian-born Mike Sarhan and his Australian partner Brad Calderon are still waiting to hear from the RRT on Sarhan’s refugee application on the basis of homosexual persecution.

This category of refugee claim was first established in 2003 after the High Court ruled in favour of a Bangladeshi gay couple.

The Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby is developing sexuality awareness training material for the RRT. A spokeswoman for the RRT said the training sessions would be conducted in the coming months.