Paris, France; October 7, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses profound concern and strong protest regarding the arrest of a Hindu minority woman on allegations of insulting the Islamic religion in Bagerhat, Bangladesh, on September 26, 2023. The human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), also calls for the immediate release of the arrested woman and the withdrawal of the false charges filed against her.
According to reliable sources, on September 24, 2023, in the Ramphal Union of Bagerhat district, a 45-year-old Hindu minority woman named Rupali Das was involved in a verbal altercation with an Islamic woman named Momena Begum when she went to fetch water at a tube well. Momena Begum, with malicious intent, accused Rupali Das of insulting Islam by using offensive language.
The next day, on September 25, 2023, local Islamic leaders mediated and compelled Rupali Das to publicly apologize to everyone present during a reconciliation meeting. Following this, female members of the local Islamic community patronized by the Islamic extremist demonstrated outside Rupali Das's house on September 26, 2023, demanding her arrest on blasphemy charges. In response to their allegations, an Islamist named Yashin Khandakar filed a false case against Rupali Das under section 153/298/506 of the penal code at the Ramphal Police Station. Consequently, the police immediately arrested her and produced her in court. Later, the court ordered her to be sent to jail custody.
