People's Democracy

SAHMAT Condemns Attack On Taslima Nasreen

SAHMAT strongly condemned the violent attack on Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasreen in Hyderabad on August 8, 2007 at a function to release the Telugu translation of the novelist’s latest novel Shodh.

It is reported that around 20 MIM workers led by MLAs Afsar Khan, Ahmad Pasha and Mozum Khan stormed the Press Club premises and raised slogans against the author. They attacked her with bouquets, flower pots and virtually anything they could lay their hands on at the concluding session of the book release.

In a statement released on August 9, SAHMAT recalled that Tasleema Nasreen has been a target of attack from fundamentalist forces both in India and Bangladesh and that it has always defended her freedom of expression.

SAHMAT appealed to the democratic minded people in India to join in the condemnation of such attacks and isolate those who preach intolerance and violence.