Islamic radicals ravage Dhaka, Archbishop appeals for peace
Dhaka, 07 May 2013: In the face of violence, "an effort of good will and peace, from
all parts of society" is needed: is what the Archbishop of Dhaka, Patrick D'Rozario
asks for in a statement released after the unrest that rocked the capital of Bangladesh,
on Sunday night and Monday morning. An impressive demonstration of the radical Islamic
movement "Hefajat-e-Islam" , announced in recent weeks brought to the capital more
than 200 thousand militants who devastated the city, clashing with the police. The
toll is 29 deaths, including three police officers, more than 50 injured, several
arrests.
The demonstration had been authorized for Sunday 5th of May, but
it exceeded the time limit and turned violent. The demonstrators attacked the headquarters
of the ruling party, the Awami League, who set fire to more than 100 shops and at
least 50 cars, carrying out acts of vandalism. The leader of the movement "Hefajat-e-Islam",
Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, was picked up by police and sent to Chittagong. As reported
to Fides by the local Church, the Archbishop of Dhaka issued a strong appeal for peace,
asking that "we recognize the rights of every believer, belonging to any religious
community" and renewing an appeal for cooperation "so that solidarity, harmony and
peace in the country may be built. ""We experienced moments of fear, but now calm
has returned. The police allowed the demonstrators to leave the city. Many came from
outside. Now there is a ban of organizing meetings and political rallies until midnight
on Monday," says to Fides Benedict Rozario, a lay Catholic, Secretary of Caritas Bangladesh,
based in Dhaka. The protesters "presented a document in 13 points - he explains
– which wants the Koran and Sharia law in civil life, ignoring other faiths." It asks,
among other things, the law of blasphemy, with the death penalty for anyone who defames
Islam. "The government has expressed disagreement on some points, noting that, for
others, the existing laws are sufficient. As Catholic Church we have expressed our
concern. The government is doing its best to protect minorities, " he notes.Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been leading a secular government since 2009, has
promised that the government "will not allow any chaos in the name of Islam, religion
of peace." Protesters criticize the government for a policy defined as "anti-Islam".
Last month activists had organized a general strike and a rally of about 500 thousand
militants, the largest political rally in decades. Source: Fides