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Bangladesh: Singer arrested for hurting “religious sentiments” of Muslims

Feb 6, 2020 4:00 pm By Robert Spencer

“Earlier, on January 29, a Tangail court denied bail to Baul singer Shariat Sarkar, who was arrested for allegedly making comments that hurt ‘religious sentiments’ of Muslims.”

We are much more enlightened in the West. We believe in the freedom of speech. Those who hurt the “religious sentiments” of Muslims aren’t arrested. They’re just smeared as racist, bigoted Islamophobes, shunned by all decent people, and systematically silenced on social media.

“Baul singer Rita Dewan sued for hurting religious sentiment,” by Sanaul Islam Tipu, Dhaka Tribune, February 3, 2020 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):

A case has been filed against a female baul (mystic singer) for making offensive comments and for hurting religious sentiment.

Dhaka Bar Association Member Advocate Imrul Hasan filed the case against Baul Rita Dewan under the Digital Security Act on Monday.

The case was filed at the court of Judge As-Sham Juglul Hossain of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Bangladesh….

Earlier, on January 29, a Tangail court denied bail to Baul singer Shariat Sarkar, who was arrested for allegedly making comments that hurt “religious sentiments” of Muslims.

District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Shawkat Ali Chowdhury issued the order after singer’s counsel Anisur Rahman Humayun filed a bail petition.

Police arrested Shariat on January 11 from Bhaluka in Mymensingh for making anti-Islamic comments during a concert in Dhamrai of Dhaka on December 24 last.

At the concert, he allegedly criticized religious Muslim clerics who oppose singing and had offered a challenge to anyone who can prove that music is forbidden under Islamic scripture.

Mohammad Faridul Islam filed the case with Mirzapur police station in Tangail under the Digital Security Act on January 9, accusing Shariat of making the comments and hurting his religious sentiments.

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Filed Under: Bangladesh, blasphemy, Featured, free speech Tagged With: As-Sham Juglul Hossain, Baul Rita Dewan, Dhaka, Imrul Hasan, Mohammad Shawkat Ali Chowdhury, Shariat Sarkar


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Comments

  1. Merri-joy says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:10 pm

    Muslim’s hurt the religious sentiments of Jews, Catholics, Christians, Hindu’s Buddhists every time they tell lies about us, every time they call them Infidel, apes & pigs, every time they insult the name of Jesus and insult the Word of God by telling us that the Quran is to be adhered to!
    The singer should file a counter claim that their religious sentiments have been insulted by Islam!

    • Battle says

      Feb 6, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      Merri-joy: +100.

    • nicu says

      Feb 6, 2020 at 5:10 pm

      exactly Merri -joy ! But they always play the victim card – pathetic !

    • SKA says

      Feb 6, 2020 at 8:09 pm

      The article is confusing because it displays a photograph of a man (?) but identifies the accused as a female mystical singer. If an article is going to display a photograph an explanatory caption would be appropriate.

      • gravenimage says

        Feb 6, 2020 at 9:08 pm

        I wondered about that myself, SKA.

        • Phil Copson says

          Feb 7, 2020 at 4:32 am

          The article refers to the arrest of two singers on this charge; Rita Dewan – (presumably the female singer, if the name “Rita” is any guide) – and, in para 4, to a singer arrested earlier – Shariat Sarkar.

          I guess the picture is of Sarkar ?

      • gravenimage says

        Feb 6, 2020 at 9:14 pm

        OK–this does make sense, SKA.

        The current case is against Baul Rita Dewanm, who appears to be female.

        But there was an earlier case against a male singer, Shariat Sarkar. This is a photo of the latter.

        Here is a picture of Rita Dewanm:

        https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.daily-sun.com%2Fassets%2Fnews_images%2F2020%2F02%2F03%2FRita.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.daily-sun.com%2Fpost%2F459245%2FAnother-Baul-singer-sued-for-%25E2%2580%2598hurting-religious-sentiment%25E2%2580%2599-&tbnid=l1xQc8gkSmlEYM&vet=12ahUKEwj40OnQrr7nAhUX06wKHRaxC1UQMygBegUIARDsAQ..i&docid=LXC_iZzuSH5HaM&w=540&h=390&q=Baul%20singer%20Rita%20Dewanm&ved=2ahUKEwj40OnQrr7nAhUX06wKHRaxC1UQMygBegUIARDsAQ

    • gravenimage says

      Feb 6, 2020 at 9:07 pm

      So true, Merri-joy.

    • mortimer says

      Feb 7, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Merri-joy, the law code of Bangladesh would theoretically allow (quote) “Jews, Catholics, Christians, Hindu’s Buddhists” to make a lawsuit for insults to their religions. I don’t know if anyone has done so.

    • Dhanush Dhari Misra says

      Feb 12, 2020 at 6:39 am

      Where will he file the counter claim? In the prison of the Islamic state?

  2. Rarely says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    Pretty thin skinned crowd. Pretty weak theology that can’t even civilly discuss differences of opinion. Sadly it’s not unique.

  3. mortimer says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    Shariat Sarkar is WRONG … of course. MUSIC IS ‘HARAM’.

    Islamic Texts that Forbid Music and Musical Instruments

    Hadith Qudsi 19:5: “The Prophet said that Allah commanded him to destroy all the musical instruments, idols, crosses and all the trappings of ignorance.”

    (The Hadith Qudsi, or holy Hadith, are those in which Muhammad transmits the words of Allah, although those words are not in the Qur’an.)

    Muhammad also said:

    (1) “Allah Mighty and Majestic sent me as a guidance and mercy to believers and commanded me to do away with musical instruments, flutes, strings,

    crucifixes, and the affair of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance.”

    (2) “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will pour molten lead into the ears of whoever sits listening to a songstress.”

    (3) “Song makes hypocrisy grow in the heart as water does herbage.”

    (4) “This community will experience the swallowing up of some people by the earth, metamorphosis of some into animals, and being rained upon with stones.”

    Someone asked, “When will this be, O Messenger of Allah?” and he said, “When songstresses and musical instruments appear and wine is held to be lawful.”

    (5) “There will be peoples of my Community who will hold fornication, silk, wine, and musical instruments to be lawful ….” — Reliance of the Traveller r40.0

    • FYI says

      Feb 6, 2020 at 5:13 pm

      What sort of god is so obtuse he hates music,musical instruments and is so misogynistic he condemns anybody for listening to a songstress?

      al LAH the Arab god of the muslims.

      In Luke 1 Mary is singing a song v46-56: but by al LAH the Arab’s islamic logic anybody caught listening to that would have molten lead poured into their ears.

      YHWH what nice singing is that!
      allah a woman singing *ugh*
      YHWH And a Jewish woman too..
      allah argh
      YHWH so allah,will you be pouring molten lead into MY ears:you’ll need
      your TWO RIGHT HANDS for that won’t you haha?Sing the hatikva for Me.
      allah….but YHWH you know i only know Arabic..
      YHWH ..that’s your fault for being a linguistically challenged god isn’t it?
      Sing it in Hebrew:I insist..

    • David says

      Feb 9, 2020 at 11:17 am

      Hadith Qudsi 19:5: “The Prophet said that Allah commanded him to destroy all the musical instruments, idols, crosses and all the trappings of ignorance.” TURN DOWN THAT BLOODY GUITAR AMP!”

  4. DHazard says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    Muslims can’t stand criticism because Islam can’t withstand criticism.

    • mortimer says

      Feb 7, 2020 at 11:54 am

      Reply to DHazard: Bangladesh started as a secular state, then adopted Islam as the national religion in 1988.

      Under Section 295A of Bangladesh’s Penal Code (1860), any person who has a “deliberate” or “malicious” intention of “hurting religious sentiments” is liable to imprisonment.

      Under clauses 99(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of The Code of Criminal Procedure, “the government may confiscate all copies of a newspaper if it publishes anything subversive of the state or provoking an uprising or anything that creates enmity and hatred among the citizens or denigrates religious beliefs. The magistrate can send police with a warrant to the place where these newspapers are found. The aggrieved person can take the matter to the notice of the high court.” Under clause 108, “a magistrate can ask for an undertaking from a person who has made an attempt to express anything seditious or create class-conflict.” Clause 144 allows a magistrate to forbid a journalist from going to his place of work

      In Bangladesh, THAT IS THE LAW.

    • Goofy says

      Feb 8, 2020 at 7:14 am

      The truth can hardly be stated clearer and shorter than this!

  5. mortimer says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    It will just take one mullah to condemn singer Shariat Sarkar. His life will be in danger from fanatical vigilantes.

    “[T]he Prophet said that Allah commanded him to destroy all the musical instruments, idols, crosses and all the trappings of ignorance. (Hadith Qudsi 19:5)

    Muhammad said:

    “Allah Mighty and Majestic sent me as a guidance and mercy to believers and commanded me to do away with musical instruments, flutes, strings, crucifixes, and the affair of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance. (Reliance of the Traveller r40.0).

  6. keith says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:49 pm

    So hurting a Mudslides feelings is a crime? What about the feelings of the families and friends of the people murdered by Mudslides? Somehow that doesn’t matter?
    The sheer audacity of these individuals astounds me.

    • mortimer says

      Feb 7, 2020 at 11:57 am

      keith, in Bangladesh, that is the law of the land.

      • keith says

        Feb 7, 2020 at 3:57 pm

        Still, doesn’t make it logical, nor right!

  7. Wilfred says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    The main issue with islam is that they believe in a faith with religious adherences applicable to the 7th century. Every other religion has kept pace with the modern with a relevant outlook. You hardly find any scientists or inventors amongst muslims. That is because they look at every development with suspicion & the prism of islamic texts. Unless & until they are ready to embrace the modern world with its modern realities nothing can save them. And above all Mullahs are the main culprits that twist & turn the texts according to their whims & fancies.

    • nicu says

      Feb 6, 2020 at 5:11 pm

      so true ! the only book they know is Quaran — education might help , but is forbidden of course !

      • mortimer says

        Feb 7, 2020 at 12:03 pm

        Bangladesh has a very good, modern educational system. In Bangladesh, all citizens must undertake twelve years of compulsory education which consists of eight years at primary school level and six years at high school level. Primary and secondary education is financed by the state and free of charge in public schools.

        • Mural says

          Feb 7, 2020 at 9:16 pm

          Ok. The only book they believe in is the quran. Would that work for you, mortimer?

  8. Battle says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 5:14 pm

    Mohammad worshippers.

  9. gravenimage says

    Feb 6, 2020 at 9:15 pm

    Bangladesh: Singer arrested for hurting “religious sentiments” of Muslims
    ……………….

    More crushing of freedom of expression.

    • mortimer says

      Feb 7, 2020 at 11:56 am

      This prosecution for blasphemy in Bangladesh is not isolated:

      On 18 September 2007, Alpin’s cartoonist Arifur Rahman was arrested and jailed, and editor Sumanta Aslam was dismissed. A Dhaka district magistrate ordered suspension of the magazine’s publication.[7][8] Hizb ut-Tahrir, a movement to unite all Muslim nations, led a campaign demanding closure of Alpin’s parent newspaper, Prothom Alo. At that time, Prothom Alo was Bangladesh’s largest circulation paper, and a frequent critic of the Islamists. The campaign occurred when the Information Ministry was headed by barrister Mainul Hossein, owner of Ittefaq, one of Prothom Alo’s rival newspapers.[11] On 20 March 2008, a court in Dhaka ordered a stay of proceedings and ordered Rahman’s release from jail because the officer who had investigated the case had failed to appear after repeated summonses.[12] On 12 November 2009, the court removed the stay of proceedings, and tried Rahman in absentia. The court sentenced Rahman to two months in jail with hard labour and a fine of 500 taka (US$7.40).[13]
      In 2007, the government banned the Eid issue of the weekly Shaptahik 2000 because of a blasphemous reference in an autobiographical article by Daud Haider.[7][8]
      In 2005, Mohd Rafiqul Islam Rony MP laid a complaint against professor Ali Asghar for causing hurt to religious sentiment by his alleged remark that religious instruction need not be compulsory.[8]
      In January 2004, the government banned all Amadhi religious publications. In December 2004, the High Court put a stay on the ban.[1][8]
      In 2003, vigilantism against Ahmadis resulted in the death of an imam and the injury of others.[7][8]
      In 2002, the police arrested the members of an amateur theater group in Faridpur, among whom were Hindus, for “causing hurt to religious sentiment” by their play.[8]
      In 2002, the Bangladesh Censor Board banned Tareque Masud and Catherine Masud’s film Matir Moina (The Clay Bird) because its setting (a madrassa in 1971) was deemed religiously sensitive. The Appeal Board lifted the ban.[8]
      In 2000, four senior editors of Jonokontho are sued on blasphemy charges in Shamsuddin Ahmed and others v. The State.[8]
      In 2000, criminals killed Monir Hossain Sagar (of Delduar in Tangail), the author of the book Nari Tumi Manush Chhile Kobey. The killers claimed that the book had indecent remarks about Allah and Prophet Mohammed.[14]
      In 1995, the government banned Naree (Woman) by Humayun Azad because the book analyzes religious doctrine. Azad was able to have the ban lifted in 2000.[8] In 2004, attackers with machetes badly injured Professor Azad outside the annual Ekushey Book Fair. After his recovery, Azad moved to Germany where he soon died.[8][14]
      In 1993, Taslima Nasreen released Lajja (Shame), a novel. It is about the rights of Hindus in Bangladesh, and its last sentence has the Hindu protagonist and his family leaving Bangladesh for India. The government immediately banned the novel. Militant Islamist groups announced a bounty on Nasreen’s head. She fled to Europe. In 1999, Nasreen released volume 1 of her autobiography, Amar Meyebela (My Girlhood) in India. Bangladesh’s government banned the book from being imported, sold, or distributed. In 2002, the police in Bangladesh were under orders to confiscate all copies of volume 2 of Nasreen’s autobiography Utal Hawa (Wild Wind) after the Home Ministry declared its publication, sale, and distribution illegal.[8] In October 2002, a court sentenced Nasreen in absentia to a year in jail for her “derogatory remarks about Islam.” In 2008, her books were openly sold by street hawkers in Bangladesh, but Nasreen dared not go there.[7]
      In 1992, Dr. Ahmed Sharif faced charges under sections 295A and 298 of the penal code because Inquilab, a daily, published remarks allegedly by Sharif that were critical of Islam. Sharif allegedly made the remarks during a private seminar.[8]
      In 1974, Enamul Haq published a leaflet which made reference to Prophet Mohammed’s wives. Protests ensued. Haq spent some time in protective custody.[8]
      In 1973, Daud Haider published a poem in which he allegedly insults Prophet Mohammed, Jesus Christ, and Gautama Buddha. The police took Haider into protective custody. He fled to India in 1974 or 1975. Later, he moved to Germany.

      • gravenimage says

        Feb 8, 2020 at 11:23 pm

        Thanks for the grim references, Mortimer.

  10. Dov Berrol says

    Feb 7, 2020 at 7:25 am

    Very significant timing for this report at Jihad Watch. This Shabbat, Jews around the world attending synagogue read Parshat B’Shalach from the Torah, which describes the very first ancient Hebrew song sung by the Israelites in the Hebrew Bible – called Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea. The Saturday is actually called “Shabbat Shirah” – “The Shabbat of Singing”.

    There are actually two songs described – the second one is a much shorter one sung by Moses’ sister Miriam and the female Israelites who were celebrating the successful escape from Egypt and the crossing of the Reed Sea. In more liberal synagogues, musical instruments are allowed and this is traditionally a very musical Shabbat with cantors and choirs and orchestras performing.

    Thank HaShem I was born into a nation that celebrates the human ability to create beautiful music and allows the neshama to express itself through through human singing with our G-d given vocal chords. What a beautiful gift from the heavens….

    It’s no wonder Israel has such great musical talent and choirs and dance troupes and orchestras. After all, we are the civilization that gave the world the book called “The Song of Songs”!

  11. Kavan Sherwood (@TattoedMan77) says

    Feb 7, 2020 at 8:17 am

    A muslim listening to music will be turned into a pig by allah. Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 69, Number 494
    This however doesn’t seem to apply when muslim men are molesting Bachi-Bazi Boys?

  12. OLD GUY says

    Feb 7, 2020 at 10:25 am

    Bangladesh another country that makes the list of places you DO NOT want to visit. Free speech and your thoughts are a gift from god, not to be controlled by any group or government.

  13. sidney penny says

    Feb 8, 2020 at 8:19 am

    “At the concert, he allegedly criticized religious Muslim clerics who oppose singing and had offered a challenge to anyone who can prove that music is forbidden under Islamic scripture.”

    And the clerics could not take up the challenge?

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