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January 17, 2014 Special Dispatch No. 5607

Exiled Bangladeshi Writer Taslima Nasreen On Islamic Extremism In India: 'In A Democratic Country [India], Fanatics Set A Price On People's Heads And Walk Away Happy; They've Never Been Questioned'

January 17, 2014
, Bangladesh, India, Bangladesh | Special Dispatch No. 5607


Taslima Nasreen lives in exile in India

A recent television series scripted by exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen was prevented from being broadcast in India's West Bengal state due to threats from Islamic clerics who complained to the police in Kokata that the program would hurt Muslim "sentiments." The series called Dusahobas was scheduled to be broadcast in December 2013 by Aakash Aath, a television channel.

Nasreen, who lives in India due to threats to her from clerics in neighboring Bangladesh, wrote in her tweets that she feels as if she is living in Saudi Arabia, according to a media report which noted that the television series was about women's struggle, not about Islam or Muslims.[1] In an interview with The Times of India daily, Nasreen later talked about how a series of fatwas (Islamic decrees) against her are eroding the freedom of thought and expression.

The following are excerpts from the interview:[2]

"There Have Been Fatwas Against Me Since 1993; Fatwas Are Contagious; If Fanatics Get Away With It, They're Emboldened; They Gain The Will To Issue More Fatwas"

Question: "There are renewed demands by certain groups for your expulsion from India - [what are] your feelings?"

Nasreen: "I get a sense of deja vu. There have been fatwas against me since 1993. Fatwas are contagious. If fanatics get away with it, they're emboldened. They gain the will to issue more fatwas. I became an unfortunate victim of religious fanaticism. In a democratic country [India], fanatics set a price on people's heads and walk away happy. They've never been questioned or confronted - rather, so-called guardians of democracy have courted them.

"I have gotten used to fatwas now - I'm not afraid of them. Come what may, I will never compromise. I write on humanism, feminism, equality, and justice. My writings are meant to encourage women to fight for their rights and to change the patriarchal mindset. Why should an award-winning, best-selling author be expelled from a country - simply because some anti-women, anti-free speech goons want to expel her for misogynistic interests?

"The Bangladesh government has prevented me from entering my country since 1994 - India is the only country where I can be in touch with my cultural heritage. My roots are Indian. Due to political blunders, the country was divided. As an atheist, I can never accept the barbed wire between Bangladesh and India that's based on religion. I feel India is my home - just as I feel Bangladesh is my home. Why should I be expelled from a secular, democratic society which is supposed to believe in freedom of expression?"

Question: "What's sparked this new anger against you?"

Nasreen: "They never can say what exactly makes them angry with me. Every now and then, Islamic fanatics claim I hurt their sentiments, so I must be deported or killed - none of them read my books or show evidence from my writings. We know they do it for political gain. It has nothing to do with what I write or say. It is dangerous if the government tries to deny people freedom of expression [in order] to protect the sentiments of those who don't believe in democracy."

"Islamic Fanatics Have Been Attacking Intellectuals, Humanists, Feminists, And Whoever Is Critical Of Islam; These Groups Are Indeed Gaining More Leverage [Worldwide]; Self-Censorship Is The Worst Form Of Censorship"

Question: "Speaking of government, you hoped to return to Kolkata in [current Chief Minister] Mamata Banerjee's tenure - but even a TV serial based on your writings has been banned [in the state of West Bengal ruled by Banerjee]. How do you view Bengal's change [and rise to power of Banerjee after decades of communist rule]…?"

Nasreen: "There's no poriborton [change] in my case for sure. The previous government threw me out and banned my book - the current government doesn't allow me to enter the state, banned my book's release, and forced a [television] channel to cancel my serial. It seems this government is following the footsteps of the previous government, especially about me.

Question: "Globally, with intolerance rising, is self-censorship among authors, filmmakers, etc., growing?"

Nasreen: "Islamic fanatics have been attacking intellectuals, humanists, feminists, and whoever is critical of Islam. These groups are indeed gaining more leverage [worldwide]. Self-censorship is the worst form of censorship. In countries where the freedom of expression of writers, artists, and filmmakers gets constantly violated, they self-censor themselves - such societies are bound to become sick.

"If religious fundamentalists decide what people should read, draw, say, and think, and authorities violate writers' and artists' freedom, then it's not really a secular democracy. Rather, it's on its way to a theocratic democracy. This is an alarming trend."

Endnotes:

[1] Indiatoday.intoday.in (India), December 19, 2013.

[2] Timesofindia.indiatimes.com (India), January 8, 2014.

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