August 5, 2024
Atheist Alliance International (AAI) is profoundly disturbed by the ongoing attacks on the homes and temples of minority religious communities in Bangladesh, perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalist mobs. These acts of violence not only threaten the safety and well-being of innocent people but also undermine the fundamental principles of justice, equality, and secularism enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh.
AAI urges Bangladesh’s interim government to take immediate and effective action to protect all citizens, regardless of their religious beliefs. It is imperative that the government ensures the safety of minority communities and their places of worship. The values of a secular constitution demand that every individual has the right to practice their religion freely and without fear of persecution.
We call for the immediate protection of these vulnerable communities through the deployment of security forces to safeguard their homes and temples from further attacks. Additionally, we stress the importance of upholding Bangladesh’s commitment to its secular constitution, ensuring that state policies and actions reflect the principles of religious freedom and equality.
AAI also calls for swift and decisive legal action against those responsible for these violent acts. It is crucial that the perpetrators are brought to justice to prevent future occurrences. Furthermore, we urge the Bangladeshi government to take vigilant measures to ensure that individuals or groups with fundamentalist ideologies are kept out of positions of influence within the state apparatus.
It is essential that the Bangladeshi government demonstrates its dedication to protecting all its citizens and maintaining a society where secular values are upheld. The international community is watching, and we stand in solidarity with the victims of these heinous attacks. We hope for a prompt and strong response that reaffirms Bangladesh’s commitment to human rights and religious freedom.
About Atheist Alliance International
Atheist Alliance International (AAI) is an umbrella organisation of secular groups across the globe, committed to educating and empowering individuals, advocating for the separation of religion and government, and supporting the rights to Freedom of Religion or Freedom from Religion worldwide. It has a special consultative status with the United Nations.
