THIS MUST BE FILLED FOR THE APPLICATION TO BE COMPLETE. Please include a statement as to why you want to join and the significance of the organisation for you. Any background information would be useful.
Dear Sir/ Madam

I would like to draw your attention to my plight as I was attacked by Islamic extremists for my activism and detained by police for 190 days under the Blasphemy Law in Bangladesh. Recently, I got released from jail with temporary bail but I'm having to fight against the case; facing death threats.

My Name is Sohel. I'm a human rights defender, blogger, online activist, and critic. I am a person who values freedom of thought and has been engaged in writing on topics such as religion, politics, science, philosophy, transgender rights, women rights, and LGBTQ+ on Facebook and on the street for many years. In 2013, I started writing under a pseudonym after several bloggers were tragically murdered.

For an extended period, I lived in Mirpur Section 13 under Kafrul Police Station in Dhaka, conducting a small hardware shop business by mortgaging my home with loans obtained from various microfinance organizations and banks. Due to the nature of my business, I had to spend several days outside my home, sharing a room with other individuals.

My fanatic roommates got to know about my Facebook activities, leading to an unfortunate incident. On June 4, 2023, a religiously motivated attack occurred on me involving around 2,000-2,500 extremist Muslims. I was surrounded by my shop, physically assaulted, sustained injuries, and stabbed. My shop was looted. Miraculously, I survived that day.

On June 7, 2023, due to allegations of religious disrespect, I was arrested under Section 28/31 of the Digital Security Act which is the Bangladeshi version of Blasphemy. Subsequently, I was placed under medical treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka Central Jail, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

After 190 days in custody, the honorable judges of the High Court's divisional bench granted me bail on December 17, 2023. Instead of being released on bail, I'm surrounded by life risk, depression, and grief. I can't go home. I'm living in hiding. I lost my business. I'm not able to live a normal life. My life hangs on threats.  

Right now my case is going on. I have the same evidence in the charge sheet and the witnesses are ready against me, any time they will arrest me again and throw me in jail. I can be sentenced at any time. I am living in fear in this situation.

In these circumstances, I seek your help to save my life. I need your shelter. I humbly ask you to relocate me to a safe country so that I can get rid of both the threats from extremists and the state.

Please see attached link below some of my blog writing (my pseudonym was Hafiz Shiraji). I also wrote so many things in my Facebook profile, which is now deleted after the attack. If you need more of my writing, I will provide it to you.

1. About LGBTQ - বাংলাদেশে গোপন সংখ্যালঘু - Hafiz Shiraji - Asad Noor

2. Analysis of women empowerment: a comparison of modern society and religion -  নারীর বিরুদ্ধে অজ্ঞাত আল্লাহ এবং স্বঘোষিত নবী মুহম্মদের মিলিত চক্রান্ত - Hafiz Shiraji - Asad Noor 

3.Rights of transgender people in society - হিজড়াদের যৌন নির্যাতন করা হলে সেটি ধর্ষণ নাকি বলাৎকার? - Hafiz Shiraji - Asad Noor

Almost every national media covered the news of my attack. Please find attached some linkss of news coverage from national media regarding the attacks. I can provide you with any other documents if needed.

Some of my attack news and TV reports videos links:

1. "Man gets stabbed in Mirpur amid clash over hurting religious sentiment" - https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/man-gets-stabbed-mirpur-amid-clash-over-hurting-religious-sentiment-644170

2. "Controversial statement about the Prophet on Facebook, clash with a resident and police in Mirpur after a fatal assault." -  https://shorturl.at/fitC5

3. "Facebook post regarding the Prophet, clash in Mirpur."  - https://www.newsbangla24.com/news/226231/Clash-in-Mir

4. "Intense clash between police and the public in Mirpur due to a Facebook post | Mirpur Clash | Jamuna TV" -  https://youtube.com/watch?v=pziweL5N-Sw&si=TrrJTQ80Kjh3Ykuk

5. "Facebook post on religious disrespect! Police-local clash in Mirpur." -  https://protidinerbangladesh.com/videos/46474/%E0%A6%AB

7.https://www.bahannonews.com/details/article/10080571/%E0%A6%/

9.https://www.news24bd.tv/ampdetails/136374

10.https://shampratikdeshkal.com/city/news/2306113877/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E

11. https://www.dokhinercrime.com/2023/06/05/152877/

12. https://www.bhorerkagoj.com/print-edition/2023/

13. https://www.dailybangladeshmirror.com/post/fesbuke-mhanbeeke-niye-ktuukti-mirpure-puliser-sngoe-elakabaseer-sngghrsh

14. https://youtu.be/d-ivM72SrVk?si=qRZ6QTQxyda7eRzU

15. https://www.shomoyeralo.com/details.php?id=226913

16. https://youtu.be/ABWIZ 3nJ?si=tn6HloJwf6SD0Nxa

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Mohammed Sohel

Email: sohelmohammed2221@gmail.com

Reference 1:

Sanal Edamaruku 

Founder of rationalist international finland 

Email:edamaruku@rationalists.net sanal.edamaruku@gmail.com

 WhatsApp +358 465281123

Reference : 2

Parvez Hashem

Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh

Cellphone: 8801711943782,

Email: parvez.hashem@gmail.com

Reference 3:

Asad Noor

Human Rights Defender, Exile blogger & journalist 

Email: mailbox.asadnoor@gmail.com

Reference 4:

Moriom Shelly 

Human Rights Activist and Journalist 

Senior Programme Officer, Article 19 Bangladesh & South Asia. 

Email: moriom@article19.org

Reference 5:

Tonoy Emroz Alam

Director Asia, Atheist Alliance International

Email:asn.service@atheistalliance.org