(1888PressRelease)
October 06, 2007 - Award winning Bangladeshi journalist, who faces sedition, treason and blasphemy charges in his own country for confronting radical Islam and for advocating interfaith understanding between Muslims, Jews and Chrstians as well as demanding relations between Israel and other Muslim nations is a remarkable individual. Commenting on him, The Wall Street Journal said "Mr. Choudhury has identified himself, at huge personal risk, as one such Muslim. Now that he is on the run, somewhere in the darkness of Dhaka, will someone in the administration pick up the phone and explain to the Bangladeshis just what America expects of its "moderate and tolerant" friends?".
Washington Times in its editorial said "The United States must encourage people like Mr. Choudhury to speak out. But when they do, it must also do all it can to protect them. Freeing Mr. Choudhury will tell others like him that when you stand against Islamists, the United States will stand with you."
New York Sun said, "Mr. Choudhury is a man in the mold of such heroes of freedom as Václav Havel and Lech Walesa."
The Australian said, "This is why we ought to be taking notice of Choudhury. It's not just a question of saving one man's life. He is part of a threat that is facing all of us. And he is on the right side in a very long battle of ideas."
Jerusalem Post said, "Despite the dire circumstances in which he finds himself, Choudhury remains strong, upbeat and determined."
The Jewish Week said, "In a world where radical Islam is on the march, threatening moderate Muslims and non-Muslims alike, outspoken and fearless individuals like Mr. Choudhury deserve our full support. It is they, after all, who are on the front lines."
The Berliner Zeitung wrote, Would Choudhury consider it, if along with this acknowledgment the request also nevertheless came to give up his fight and to free the family from their state of siege? The family would have enough money to lead a calm life abroad, and they would have a good chance of leaving Bangladesh despite the current legal proceedings. But for Choudhury his struggle has long ago become his. "Who leaves the battleground, has lost", he says. "However, whoever struggles for the right cause always wins.“
The Suburban in an editorial wrote, “They are neither. They work alone, with no support, forging ahead to bring the truth into the open. The International Press Freedom Awards that recognizes courage in journalism is an important event that brings the plight of these journalist to light. But it’s not enough. They deserve encouragement and support because in dangerous situations, they champion everything we hold dear, and often take for granted.”
Kenneth Peskin, President, AJC's Metro New Jersey commenting on Shoaib Choudhury said, "He is a person who, because of his beliefs, is willing to go to jail and face persecution like Jews in other countries who have endured hardship, jailed because of their beliefs."
JT News commenting on him wrote, “The Talmud says that to save one person is to save a whole world. Know this: For every Shoaib Choudhury willing to risk his life to save his people from tyranny and ignorance, there is a world of others who want to speak out but are afraid. Their future ability to add their voices to his depends on the Western world’s response to him, and they are eagerly watching.”
The Jewish State wrote, “The promise of 70 virgins in return for a suicidal act in which the perpetrator also kills innocent human beings is, Choudhury said, religion in bad taste. It is also a false reading of the Koran, and therefore not true Islam, he said, yet it is the form of Islam being taught to Muslim youth around the world. He was asked about the madrassas -- could they produce educated professionals, like doctors, lawyers, and businessmen and women? They can produce lots of educated terrorists, Choudhury responded, and then asked: can a winery produce iron?”
Another commentator wrote, “Forty-two years old, Choudhury is that rarest of breed, a faithful Moslem who, in the belly of the beast, publicly dissents from the stifling orthodoxy of hatred and extremism that characterizes the Islamic world. There are a handful of other outspoken Moslem-born men and women (mainly the latter), but while their heroism is unquestionable, most live in the West where, although their lives remain in danger, their right to speak is at least upheld by the government. Choudhury lives in Bangladesh where he is currently on trial on spurious charges of sedition, treason and blasphemy before an Islamist judge and faces the death penalty.”
Now, a book in English by this courageous Muslim journalist named Injustice & Jihad has been published by Blitz Publications. This book contains 384 pages and is priced at US# 30 [inclusive of postal charges]. Interested buyers may contact Dr. Richard L. Benkin in USA at drrbenking ( @ ) comcast dot net for retail copies while Amanur Rashid Aman, Circulation Manager, Blitz, Email: ediblitz ( @ ) yahoo dot com for bulk purchase. Copies of this book are already being exported to various buyers around the world. Booksellers in America, Europe, Asia, Australia and African continent are also requested to contact any of the mentioned email addresses.
