On 18th September 2007, Bangladeshi authorities arrested a cartoonist after drawings that Muslims said insulted their religion were published in a national newspaper, police and the government said.
A Home Ministry statement said Arifur Rahman's sketches — titled "Name" — that came out Monday in a weekly supplement of the Prothom Alo — "hurt the religious sentiments of the people."
Police detectives picked up Rahman from his house in the capital, Dhaka, after the home ministry ordered his arrest, Janey Alam, a police officer at Tejgaon police station said.
Rahman was yet to be formally charged, Alam said, adding that he was arrested under a stringent law that allows detention without any specific charges.
Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation, has no specific blasphemy laws. But offenders can be prosecuted for hurting religious or public sentiments.
The Home Ministry also ordered the confiscation of all copies of the satirical supplement, called "Alpin." The government also urged "all to show restrain over the unwarranted incident."
Prothom Alo authorities apologized for publishing the cartoon and withdrew the supplement.
The controversy involves a cartoon character making a play on Prophet Muhammad's name, which Muslims deem insulting to Islam and its prophet.
Islamic leaders also demanded the Bangali daily Prothom Alo be shut down for printing the "highly objectionable" cartoons and that its editor and published be arrested.
"This is a grievous offense, this is dangerous," said Obaidul Huq, head cleric of the National Baitul Mukarram Mosque.
Bangladesh has in the past banned publications for insulting Islam or Prophet Muhammad.
Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/18/asia/AS-GEN-Bangladesh-Cartoon-Controversy.php
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On 18th September 2007, Bangladeshi authorities arrested a cartoonist after drawings that Muslims said insulted their religion were published in a national newspaper, police and the government said.
A Home Ministry statement said Arifur Rahman's sketches — titled "Name" — that came out Monday in a weekly supplement of the Prothom Alo — "hurt the religious sentiments of the people."
Police detectives picked up Rahman from his house in the capital, Dhaka, after the home ministry ordered his... (read more)