Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

See note at article's end.

I received the following e-mail from Dr Richard Benkin:

The Choudhury family has asked me to pass the following information to you and to others who are concerned about his fate. While there has been no overt response to follow-up inquiries subsequent to my meeting at Bangladesh’s Washington embassy, we might be seeing some movement. Last week, the Criminal Investigation Department issued its Investigation Report, which the Choudhurys believe will be presented to the court soon.

The Report states that "nothing negative has been found." This is in conformance with what the government admitted to me and if that is what the government produces, we should expect an immediate release. But if they present the first investigation report, as well, that stated falsely and with no evidence that Shoaib, the outcome is not clear. You can help with your prayers, with letters to the Bangladesh government, by contacting your representative, or by contacting me.

Remember, even after he is released, Shoaib and his family will have to rebuild their lives and their livelihood. The government seized all his computers and files, and destroyed his journistic offices. Your ongoing support and contacts will help us do that.

Thanks.

Richard Benkin

Note: If you do not recall the details of the arrest and persecution of Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, the Bangladeshi journalist whose only "crime" was trying to fly to Israel, please check out one or several of the following:

1. IsraPundit has posted six pieces concerning Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury; to read them, enter "choudhury" in our search engine, middle of the right-hand column.

2. Read Dr Benkin's site on Choudhury: http://www.freechoudhury.com/

3. Google "Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury" and read some of the 375 links that come up.

Israel's friends should stand together!

Posted by Joseph Alexander Norland at January 17, 2005 08:03 AM

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Comments

1. BobW [TypeKey Profile Page] said:

PREFACE: My comments below do not directly ( but yes, indirectly) relate to Israpundit reader assistance to help Dr Benkin's project to free Salah Choudhury. Most definitely, try to help free him.
==============================================

If matters are not evaluated, repeat mistakes will occur. A basic, one time effort to assist will not require more than a morning of work (split into 2 plus sessions)and no more than $US 10-15 in postage, photocopies and follow-up thank you letters for replies).

Multiply the above by the number of other projects you currently have in progress.

Bangladesh deems itself the world's second largest Muslim republic. Since its independence it's been a politically volatile nation. Currently, the national government does not exercise effective control over the nation. Bombings are common. Much of the population is anti Israel. Having said this, there are recent cases of Muslim groups destroying mosques of rival Muslim factions.

In the political environment I describe (please verify to own satisfaction), Choudhury sought to open an Israeli NGO office in Bangladesh. He urged his government to recognize Israel. He published an interview with an Israeli. Is this prudent without the required support system in place?

There are realistic probabilites that a successful campaign to win Choudhury's release, cannot be implemented because the government in Dhaka would fall. Again, the country is not politically stable.

What is acomplished with Bangladesh's diplomatic recognition of Israel? The place is not safe for its citizens, let alone others.

An Israeli chancery in Dhaka is called a target.

Should not professors also evaluate project proposals prior to implementation? All I ask for is an evaluation PRIOR to projects. Although Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not the suggested model to use - because of higher level domestic problems; not the Israeli diplomats' work products - , Dr Benkin should review Singapore and PR China's evaluation processes and deliberation methods.

Kol tuv,
BobW

Posted by: BobW [TypeKey Profile Page] on January 17, 2005 04:30 AM

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