Freedom of religion in Bangladesh

The main religion in Bangladesh is Islam (89.7%), but a significant percentage of the population adheres to Hinduism (9.2%).[1] Other religious groups include Buddhists (0.7%, mostly Theravada), Christians (0.3%, mostly Roman Catholics), and Animists (0.1%). Bangladesh was founded as a secular state, but Islam was made the state religion in the 1980s. But in 2010, the High Court held up the secular principles of the 1972 constitution.[2] The High Court also strengthened its stance against punishments by Islamic edict (fatwa), following complaints of brutal sentences carried out against women by extra-legal village courts.[3]

Status of religious freedom

Legal and policy framework

The Constitution establishes Islam as the state religion but also allows other religions to be practiced in harmony.[4]

In 2010, the High Court held up the secular principles of the 1972 constitution.[2] The High Court also strengthened its stance against punishments by Islamic edict (fatwa), following complaints of brutal sentences carried out against women by extra-legal village courts.[3]

Persecution of minority communities

Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict

Persecution of Ahmadis

Ahmadis have been targeted by various protests and acts of violence, and fundamentalist Islamic groups have demanded that Ahmadis be officially declared kafirs (infidels).[5][6][7]

Persecution of Christians

Apostasy

Persecution of atheists

Several Bangladeshi atheists have been assassinated, and a "hit list" exists issued by the Bangladeshi Islamic organization, the Ansarullah Bangla Team. Activist atheist bloggers are leaving Bangladesh under threat of assassination.[8][9][10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bangladesh Buruae of Educational Information and Statistics". Banbeis.gov.bd. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  2. 1 2 Verdict paves way for secular democracy. The Daily Star. 30 July 2010. Retrieved on 22 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 Andrew Buncombe (11 July 2010). "Bangladeshi court outlaws fatwa punishments". The Independent (London). Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  4. ↑ Constitution of Bangladesh
  5. ↑ Rahman, Waliur. "Violent Dhaka rally against sect". BBC News. 23 December 2005.
  6. ↑ "Bangladesh: The Ahmadiyya Community - their rights must be protected". Amnesty International. 22 April 2004.
  7. ↑ Bangladesh: Bomber Attacks a Mosque, New York Times, 26 December 2015
  8. ↑ Writer, Staff (May 30, 2015). "‘You’ll be next’: Bangladeshi blogger gets death threat on Facebook". Times of India (Kolkata: The times of India).
  9. ↑ "Al-Qaeda branch claims responsibility for murder of writer-blogger Avijit Roy: Rab, police doubt reported claim". The Daily Star (Transcom Group). May 4, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  10. ↑ Kieran Corcoran; Sam Matthew (February 27, 2015). "Prominent American blogger hacked to death on Bangladeshi street". Daily Mail Online (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved May 8, 2015.
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