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Bangladesh: Christians and Hindus Persecuted by Islamist Parties

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Religious rights advocates have warned that Christians and Hindus in Bangladesh are experiencing intensified persecution as the country’s interim government has allowed the previously banned Jamaat-e-Islami Islamic party to have free reign in the country, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) reports.

The Bangladeshi interim government was formed after weeks of protests led to the ousting of long-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Now living in India, Hasina was criticized for leaving her pro-democracy roots and becoming increasingly autocratic. However, Christian advocates warn the country’s move toward Islam is dangerous for non-Muslims.

In addition to Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned as a terror group, a second previously banned Islamist organization, Hizb ut-Tahrir, is also understood to be gaining influence, CSI said. “At a rally held in early August, Hizb ut-Tahrir made its anti-minority stance clear,” CSI said in its report. Threatening Christians and Hindus on the street, this group has reportedly called for Bangladesh to become a Muslim-only country.

“They demonstrated in front of our office and house. They were carrying swords and firearms,” a local CSI partner said. “For five nights running they threatened all the Christians in the area. They marked the gates with the cross.”

“In public and private universities, colleges, high schools, and elementary schools principals and teachers from minority communities have been forced to resign and their positions given to the followers of Jamaat-e-Islami,” the CSI partner said. “Now that the process is underway, it is assumed that no members of religious minorities will again be hired as teachers in any educational institution,” he added.

“Many of the Christians who were given jobs in the judicial sector and in various law enforcement agencies, including the police, under the previous government have been sacked and transferred to remote areas,” the CSI partner continued. “Minority leaders have been accused in various cases and their religion has been used before the mention of their name, such as adding Christian before the name Vipul and referring to Christian Vipul. This is understood as a reflection of religious hatred.”