The Federalist: Blogger hacked to death for insulting Islam

Monday, April 8, 2013

Blogger hacked to death for insulting Islam

Bangladeshi bloggers form a human chain to protest against the detention of three bloggers at
Dhaka University campus in Dhaka on April 2, 2013. AFP PHOTO

Bloggers in Bangladesh protest over arrest of writers

The government has blocked about a dozen websites and blogs to stem the Islamist unrest. It has also set up a panel, which includes intelligence chiefs, to monitor blasphemy on social media.

Eight popular Bangladeshi Bloggers have blacked out their websites as part of a 24-hour protest over the arrests this week of four online writers.

Those being held have been accused of hurting the religious sentiments of the country's Muslim majority.

The government has been accused by liberals of appeasing Islamists calling for tough blasphemy laws.

Hardliners want those they perceive to be anti-Islamic Bloggers to face the death penalty reports the BBC News.

Computer screens in Bangladesh on
Thursday displayed off-line messages

But liberals say that bloggers' freedom of speech must be preserved. The sites are mostly run by individuals or small teams.

'Bullied'

"Bangla Blogosphere begins blackout in protest against harassing and cracking down on bloggers," reads a notice on the home pages of one of the protesting sites inaccessible from noon (0700 GMT) on Thursday.

Detectives on Wednesday arrested blogger Asif Mohiuddin, who was attacked in January following alleged postings on the internet suspected of being derogatory to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

Mohiuddin was remanded in custody by a court on on Thursday for three days to enable police to question him. His blog is suspended.

His arrest came a day after police arrested three other bloggers in Dhaka facing similar allegations.

In February Blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider was killed outside his home for allegedly insulting Islam.

Critics say that the authorities have been bullied into carrying out the arrests following threats from radical Islamist organisations.

They have threatened to unleash anarchy if "atheist bloggers are not hanged".

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam told local media that Mr Mohiuddin and other Bloggers face charges of "instigating negative elements against Islam to create anarchy".

The issue of blogging became an issue in Bangladesh after a group of online activists took to the streets of Dhaka in February to celebrate the sentencing of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Kader Mullah to life in prison for crimes committed during the country's 1971 war of liberation from Pakistan.

In recent weeks a group of Bloggers, including Haider, had launched mass protests demanding his execution and a ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's largest Islamist party.

Jamaat denies being involved in war crimes and says the tribunal is part of a government vendetta against the party.

Deadly Bangladesh clashes erupt over insults against Islam

Blogger hacked to death for insulting Islam

Bangladesh deployed troops in March to contain Islamist violence.
Police in Bangladesh have arrested a self-styled "militant atheist" for anti-religious writings as part of a crackdown on bloggers in the face of pressure from radical Islamist groups.
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The arrest of Asif Mohiuddin, 29, comes a day after the detention of three other bloggers and ahead of an Islamist march towards the capital Dhaka to demand the death penalty for online atheist writers.
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Mohiuddin, who is famed for his blogs that ridicule Muslims, the Koran and other religions, survived a machete attack by suspected Islamists in Dhaka in January.
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His blog page had been one of the most visited websites in the country before it was removed at the order of the telecoms regulator.
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Mohiuddin told AFP last week that the government was targeting bloggers to appease fanatics. "It's shame that the government is sacrificing the bloggers to woo voters," he said.
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The government has blocked about a dozen websites and blogs to stem the unrest. It has also set up a panel, which includes intelligence chiefs, to monitor blasphemy on social media. (Radio Australia - International)

Tens of Thousands of Bangladeshis attend prayers during a rally in Dhaka
calling for new tough blasphemy laws.
(UK Daily Mail)

Members of the Islami Andolan Bangladesh are demanding the arrest of 'atheist bloggers who insulted Islam' and to pass laws punishing those who 'insulted Islam in the parliament'.

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Thomas Pinckney, Federalist

Commissioned as captain in the 1st South Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army. After seeing much action, he became an aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates. He was captured by the British at the disastrous Battle of Camden in 1780. After recovering from his wounds, he was released in a prisoner exchange. In 1781 he fought under Lafayette in Virginia. Appointed by President George Washington to be the U.S. minister to Great Britain served as Envoy Extraordinary to Spain. The Federalist Party made him a candidate in the 1796 presidential election as the intended running-mate of John Adams. Served as Congressman and Governor of South Carolina. Served as a major general in the Army during the War of 1812.

Henry Lee III, Federalist

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Frederick Frelinghuysen, Federalist

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WILLIAM PATERSON, Federalist

James Hillhouse, Federalist

Hillhouse served as captain in Governor's Foot Guards in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, Congressman from Connecticut at-large, 1791–96, and a Federalist Party U. S. Senator from Connecticut, 1796–1810. He was the anti-slavery leader of the Congress in the early days of the Republic. After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, Hillhouse fought to bar the importation of slaves into the Louisiana Territory. "I consider slavery as a serious evil," he proclaimed, "and wish to check it wherever I have authority." Two of Hillhouse's amendments restricting slavery passed the Congress and were signed into law.

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Jacob Read, Federalist

Alexander Contee Hanson, Federalist

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William Bingham, Federalist

As a merchant he brought full loads of munitions & guns for the war. Served as a diplomat for Congress to France. Bingham marshaled the Second Troop of Philadelphia Light Horse. He served in the Continental Congress, 1st Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, State Senator, and US Senator. Federalists agreed to hold preliminary votings at the Bingham Estate before propositions were brought before Congress publicly, thus creating unanimity among party lines. Alexander Hamilton sought Bingham as his mentor in managing taxes, tariffs, and in constructing a national bank.

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David Cobb, Federalist

Cobb studied medicine in Boston and practiced in Taunton, Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1775; lieutenant colonel of Jackson’s regiment in 1777 and 1778, serving in Rhode Island and New Jersey; was aide-de-camp on the staff of General George Washington; appointed major general of militia in 1786. Fought in the New York and New Jersey Campaign, the Battles of Springfield, Monmouth, Rhode Island and Shay's Rebellion. He served the Federalist Party as Lt. Governor of Massachusetts, President of the State Senate and Congressman.

Josiah Parker, Federalist

In 1775 Parker enlisted in the Continental Army. He was commissioned a major in the 5th Virginia Regiment in 1776 and became its colonel in 1778. His regiment served in Virginia under General Charles Lee and was transferred to George Washington. The regiment thereafter saw action at the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. During Cornwallis's Virginia campaign in 1781, the notorious Colonel Tarleton ransacked his home. He was elected to the First US Congress from Virginia serving for twelve years.

William Stephens Smith, Federalist

Smith married Abigail "Nabby" Adams, the daughter of President John Adams, and so was a brother-in-law of President John Quincy Adams, and an uncle of Charles Francis Adams. Served in the Revolutionary Army as aide-de-camp to General John Sullivan. Fought in the Battle of Long Island, was wounded at Harlem Heights, Battle of White Plains, was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the Battle of Trenton, fought at the Battle of Monmouth and Newport. He was on the staff of General Lafayette, became an adjutant in the Corps of Light Infantry, then transferred to the staff of George Washington. Elected as a Federalist Congressman from New York.

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John Rutledge, Jr., Federalist

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John Sergeant, Federalist

Member of the Pennsylvania state house of representatives 1808-1810; elected as a Federalist to Congress and served from 1815, to 1823. Sergeant was a strong backer of Henry Clay's American System and the Second Bank of the United States, and even traveled to Europe to negotiate loans to the Bank. He was a strong opponent of slavery who voted against the Missouri Compromise. In 1826 he was an envoy to the Panama Congress. Elected to Congress as an Adams candidate 1827 to 1829. Failing re-election he became legal counsel to the Bank of the United States. Sergeant was the Vice Presidential running mate in Henry Clay's campaign on the National Republican ticket in 1832. Elected as a Whig to Congress serving from 1837 to 1841.

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Philip Barton Key, Federalist

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