Readers Respond
Here are some comments that came in response to Tuesday's The Daily Star news report headlined “No blasphemy law needed”
Reaz Hassan
Hasina is absolutely correct in her assessment that no new blasphemy law is required in the country. The existing laws are sufficient. I am sure BNP holds the same view though there may be some pressure from Jamaat. The party needs to take a tougher stand on this against the Islamist forces within.
Mohd Shah Alam Khan, Canada
Hasina is showing a softer attitude towards the Islamists. She is afraid of Mufti and Mollah for what reason she knows better. She said Bangladesh is a secular democracy. But till today, we did not read about the arrest of the culprits for destroying minorities' properties and temples.
Anonymous
The government can arrest anyone for writing offensive things. It could be eyewash. Maybe innocent people would be arrested instead of the real bloggers.
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Here are some comments that came in response to Tuesday's The Daily Star news report headlined “PM's view rejected by Hefajat”
S M Iftekhar Ahmed
Are the Hefajat men aware that Islam significantly empowers women? Do they know of the example set by our beloved Prophet (pbuh) that he did not take revenge on the Quraish who hurled insult at him when the Muslims triumphed? Compared to that, the existing laws in Bangladesh regarding insults to religious sentiment are less lenient and rightfully so. They should do their research before going on a 'demand spree'. But of course, it is now becoming clear that they consist of fanatical Jamaat-Shibir elements.
Amrit Barua
I don't understand why these religious people are demanding death penalty. They are supposed to be religious leaders, so I expect them to have more compassion, love, and sense of humanity. If anyone commits an offence by writing anything wrong about Islam, that may be due to his ignorance about religious values. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the religious to educate him or her rather than putting end to his/her life. Besides, there is a law regarding this. I suppose the duty of the religious people is to rehabilitate the offenders, not killing them.
Arnab
In afterlife, the merciful Creator will decide who are the atheists and who are not and according to that, He will punish those people. It is not necessary to punish them so severely like sending them to gallows. Better punishment awaits them.
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