Bangladesh: Ahmadi teen dies from injuries sustained in August 5 extremist rampage

The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC) deeply regrets to note the death on November 8 of Shahriar Rakeen, a 16-year-old Bangladeshi, who was brutally assaulted during the extremist attacks on August 5th.

During the attacks in Ahmednagar and Panchagarth, Rakeen was beaten on the head with lethal weapons. In efforts to save his life, he was treated in several hospitals, but died at Dhaka Neuroscience Hospital, where he had been a patient since August 7.

Twenty-two (22) others were also injured during the violence against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The IHRC condemns this assault and appeals to public authorities and civil society in Bangladesh to respect religious freedom and tolerance.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is under constant threats and also fear that more false cases can be filed against them in that area. Therefore, we want such conspiracies and harassment to be stopped, and for the government to take actions against ill-motivated conspirators.

IHRC has continuously raised its voice since many years over attacks on Ahmadiyya Muslims houses, shops places of worship and graves.

Attacks on their members have intensified. Most have come to light through social media and International NGOs.

We once again strongly urge the international community to impress upon the Government of Bangladesh its responsibility to provide effective protection and freedom of religious practice to Ahmadis, and ensure that perpetrators of such vicious actions should be brought to justice, and to bring its laws and practices in conformity with international standards as ordained by Article 20 and United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 2, 18, and 20, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 25, 26.