Asad Noor

{{Short description|Bangladeshi blogger and human rights activist}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Asad Noor

| native_name = {{nobold|আসাদ নূর}}

| native_name_lang = bn

| image = Asad Noor 2024 (cropped).jpg

| image_upright =

| caption = Noor in 2024

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|08|08|df=y}}

| birth_place = Gopalganj District, Bangladesh

| nationality = Bangladeshi

| occupation = Blogger, Human rights defender

| website =

}}

Asaduzzaman Noor (born 8 August 1991),{{Cite news |title=বাংলাদেশী ব্লগার আসাদ নূরের বাবা-মাকে হয়রানির প্রতিবাদ অ্যামনেস্টি ইন্টারন্যাশনাল |url=https://www.bbc.com/bengali/news-53483707 |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=BBC News বাংলা |language=bn}} better known as Asad Noor,{{Cite web |last=Bhaumik |first=Subir |date=2020-10-01 |title=Blogger Asad Noor a fly in bonnet for Dhaka-Delhi |url=http://nenow.in/neighbour/bangladesh/blogger-asad-noor-a-fly-in-bonnet-for-dhaka-delhi.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=NORTHEAST NOW |language=en-US |archive-date=28 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528043336/https://nenow.in/neighbour/bangladesh/blogger-asad-noor-a-fly-in-bonnet-for-dhaka-delhi.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Country policy and information note: religious minorities and atheists, Bangladesh, March 2022 (accessible) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bangladesh-country-policy-and-information-notes/country-policy-and-information-note-religious-minorities-and-atheists-bangladesh-march-2022-accessible |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} is an exiled Bangladeshi blogger, atheist and human rights activist. Noor is an advocate for freedom of expression and LGBT rights, who has criticised religious fundamentalism in Bangladesh.{{Cite web |title=Death threats against Bangladeshi blogger accused of "defaming Islam" {{!}} RSF |url=https://rsf.org/en/death-threats-against-bangladeshi-blogger-accused-defaming-islam |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=rsf.org |date=28 July 2020 |language=en |archive-date=21 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521222151/https://rsf.org/en/death-threats-against-bangladeshi-blogger-accused-defaming-islam |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-02-08 |title=Concerted attacks against Bangladeshi activists on Facebook |url=https://globalvoices.org/2022/02/08/concerted-attacks-against-bangladeshi-activists-on-facebook/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Global Voices |language=en |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519154349/https://globalvoices.org/2022/02/08/concerted-attacks-against-bangladeshi-activists-on-facebook/ |url-status=live }} He has been prosecuted multiple times by Bangladeshi authorities for alleged blasphemy and hurting religious sentiments.{{Cite news |date=16 March 2021 |title=Humanists International at UN: justice for Asad Noor and Ashraf Fayadh is long overdue |url=https://humanists.international/2021/03/humanists-international-at-un-justice-for-asad-noor-and-ashraf-fayadh-is-long-overdue/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205091731/https://humanists.international/2021/03/humanists-international-at-un-justice-for-asad-noor-and-ashraf-fayadh-is-long-overdue/ |archive-date=5 December 2021 |access-date=7 May 2022 |work=Humanists International |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |title=Bangladeshi blogger faces death threats for criticizing Islamic fundamentalism |date=24 August 2020 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/blogger-faces-death-threats-for-criticizing-islam/a-54678246 |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en-GB |archive-date=23 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523071446/https://www.dw.com/en/blogger-faces-death-threats-for-criticizing-islam/a-54678246 |url-status=live }}

Noor has been living in exile since 2019.{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharya |first=Snigdhendu |date=20 January 2022 |title=Targeted Cyber-Attack On Bangladeshi Atheists |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/targeted-cyber-attack-on-bangladeshi-atheists-shows-them-dead-on-facebook-news-44625 |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=Outlook India |language=en |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227145915/https://www.outlookindia.com/national/targeted-cyber-attack-on-bangladeshi-atheists-shows-them-dead-on-facebook-news-44625 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2020-08-09 |title=Accused of 'Defaming Islam', B'desh Blogger Who Defended Buddhist Monk Fears for Family |url=https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/accused-of-defaming-islam-bdesh-blogger-who-defended-buddhist-monk-fears-for-family-2771341.html |access-date=2023-08-13 |website=News18 |language=en |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201104309/https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/accused-of-defaming-islam-bdesh-blogger-who-defended-buddhist-monk-fears-for-family-2771341.html |url-status=live }} He faces significant life-threatening risks from Islamic fundamentalists due to his outspoken criticism and repeated exposure of their activities through his activism.{{Cite journal |title=Death threats against Bangladeshi blogger accused of "defaming Islam" |url=https://rsf.org/en/death-threats-against-bangladeshi-blogger-accused-defaming-islam |journal=Reporters Without Borders |date=28 July 2020 }}

Career

Noor began his activism by writing to various blogs and social networks in 2013. Following his involvement with the 2013 Shahbag protests, he became a target for religious fundamentalists. Since 2015, he has been subjected to threats and intimidation by state and non-state actors for his human rights work.{{cite news |title=Asaduzzaman Noor |website=Humanists International |url=https://humanists.international/case-of-concern/asaduzzaman-noor/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130151821/https://humanists.international/case-of-concern/asaduzzaman-noor/ |url-status=live }}

In July 2020, Noor published several video blogs condemning the intimidation of Bangladesh's minority Buddhist community in Rangunia Upazila of the Chittagong District.{{Cite web |last=Halder |first=Deep |date=2023-09-23 |title='I feel like Salman Rushdie' – Bangladeshi atheist blogger on the run has been hiding in India |url=https://theprint.in/ground-reports/i-feel-like-salman-rushdie-bangladeshi-atheist-blogger-on-the-run-has-been-hiding-in-india/1774480/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}} Consequently, a local Awami League leader filed a lawsuit against Noor on 14 July 2020 under the Digital Security Act, with the charges of "hurting religious sentiments" and "running propaganda against the spirit of the liberation war."{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh: Blogger Asaduzzaman Noor charged under Digital Security Act / FIJ |url=https://www.ifj.org/fr/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/detail/category/press-releases/article/bangladesh-blogger-asaduzzaman-noor-charged-under-digital-security-act.html |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=www.ifj.org |language=fr |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928223940/https://www.ifj.org/fr/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/detail/category/press-releases/article/bangladesh-blogger-asaduzzaman-noor-charged-under-digital-security-act.html |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |date=27 December 2017 |title=Blogger lands in jail in a case under ICT act |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/blogger-lands-jail-case-under-ict-act-1510942 |access-date=7 May 2022 |work=The Daily Star |language=en |archive-date=23 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523084638/https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/blogger-lands-jail-case-under-ict-act-1510942 |url-status=live }}

One of Noor's video blogs presented the apparent vandalism of an under-construction Buddhist statue of a Buddhist monastery in Rangunia. Noor claimed the attackers were backed by the forest officials and the local Awami League MP because they conspired to banish the monks from the area.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} Following the release of Noor's videos, local Islamic groups protested against the blogger and accused him of undermining religious harmony between Muslims and Buddhists.{{Cite news |title=Bangladesh blogger faces jail for supporting monk |url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/bangladesh-blogger-faces-jail-for-supporting-monk/88822 |access-date=1 December 2021 |work=UCA News |language=en |archive-date=1 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201102809/https://www.ucanews.com/news/bangladesh-blogger-faces-jail-for-supporting-monk/88822 |url-status=live }}

At the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Asad Noor expressed concerns about the situation of religious and belief minorities in Bangladesh, citing an increase in attacks following the 2024 protests. He referred to past incidents involving secular bloggers and publishers and mentioned his own experience of leaving Bangladesh due to legal issues and security concerns. Noor also commented on the Constitutional Reform Committee’s recommendation to retain Islam as the state religion, suggesting that such measures could affect minority communities. He emphasized the importance of separating religion and state to uphold human rights.{{Cite AV media |url=https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1a/k1aotb18d8 |title=32nd Meeting - 58th Session of Human Rights Council |language=en |access-date=2025-03-19 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250317083801/https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1a/k1aotb18d8 |archive-date=2025-03-17}}

= Legal issues =

On 25 December 2017, Noor was arrested by the immigration police of Shahjalal International Airport while trying to flee Bangladesh and was later sent to jail.{{cite news |title=Man arrested at Dhaka airport over ICT case |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/12/26/man-arrested-at-dhaka-airport-over-ict-case |access-date=30 November 2021 |work=bdnews24.com |date=26 December 2017 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130115414/https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/12/26/man-arrested-at-dhaka-airport-over-ict-case |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|date=26 December 2017|title=Bangladesh activist arrested on 'anti-Islam' charges|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20171226-bangladesh-activist-arrested-anti-islam-charges|access-date=3 December 2021|work=France 24|language=en|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203123713/https://www.france24.com/en/20171226-bangladesh-activist-arrested-anti-islam-charges|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Habib|first=Haroon|date=26 December 2017|title=Blogger held on blasphemy charges|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/blogger-held-on-blasphemy-charges/article22282030.ece|access-date=3 December 2021|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203123713/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/blogger-held-on-blasphemy-charges/article22282030.ece|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Bangladeshi Blogger Arrested At Dhaka Airport For Blasphemous Post|url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bangladeshi-blogger-asad-noor-arrested-at-dhaka-airport-for-blasphemous-post-1792451|access-date=3 December 2021|work=NDTV|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203123714/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bangladeshi-blogger-asad-noor-arrested-at-dhaka-airport-for-blasphemous-post-1792451|url-status=live}}

Subsequently, Noor spent eight months in prison throughout 2018. In August, as he was released on bail, he faced protests from the radical Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, who demanded him to be executed.{{Cite news |script-title=bn:কোরআনের অবমাননাকারী ব্লগারের জামিনে হেফাজতের বিক্ষোভ|url=https://www.jugantor.com/country-news/85435/কোরআনের-অবমাননাকারী-ব্লগারের-জামিনে-হেফাজতের-বিক্ষোভ|access-date=1 December 2021|work=Jugantor|language=bn}}{{Cite news|script-title=bn:নাস্তিক আসাদ নুরকে পুনরায় গ্রেফতার ও ফাঁসির দাবী|url=https://www.dailyinqilab.com/article/150461/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%81%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80|access-date=1 December 2021|work=Daily Inqilab|language=bn|archive-date=1 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201091342/https://www.dailyinqilab.com/article/150461/%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%93-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%81%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80|url-status=live}} Noor was later arrested for alleged involvement in a drug trafficking case, which he claims is a fabrication.

Karin Deutsch Karlekar, Director of Free Expression at Risk Programs at PEN America said: “The arrest and detention of Asad Noor reflects the extremely precarious position of independent voices in Bangladesh”. Karlekar also added: “Bloggers like Noor live in fear of physical attack or even murder from extremist groups on the one hand, and then face persecution from their government—which should be acting to protect them—on the other. We ask Bangladeshi officials to release and drop the charges against Asad Noor, to take robust measures to protect him from extremist violence, and in addition, to protect, rather than prosecute, free expression.”{{cite web |date=11 January 2018 |title=Detained Bangladesh Blogger Asad Noor Should be Released and Given Protection |url=https://pen.org/press-release/bangladesh-detained-blogger-asad-noor-released-given-protection/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128172345/https://pen.org/press-release/bangladesh-detained-blogger-asad-noor-released-given-protection/ |archive-date=28 November 2021 |access-date=30 November 2021 |website=PEN America}}

Daniel Bastard, head of RSF Reporters without Borders Asia-Pacific stated: “We call for the charges against Asad Noor to be dismissed because his only crime has been to express secular opinions,” and added “The legal article under which he is accused has for too long been used by extremist religious groups to gag all independent voices. And, in view of the calls for his death, the authorities must provide him with specific protective measures.”{{cite web |date=16 January 2018 |title=RSF calls for release of Bangladeshi blogger held on blasphemy charge |url=https://rsf.org/en/news/rsf-calls-release-bangladeshi-blogger-held-blasphemy-charge |access-date=30 November 2021 |website=Reporters Without Borders (RSF)}}

In early 2019, Noor was granted bail for the second time. Fearing for his safety after his release, Noor secretly fled Bangladesh in February. He has been living underground outside Bangladesh ever since and continues his online activism on Facebook and YouTube.{{Cite web|title=Interview {{!}} 'Fundamentalists Are Holding Hasina Govt to Ransom': Exiled Bangladeshi Blogger|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/interview-asad-noor-bangladesh-blogger-islamic-fundamentalists-hasina|access-date=30 November 2021|website=The Wire|archive-date=30 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130185819/https://thewire.in/communalism/interview-asad-noor-bangladesh-blogger-islamic-fundamentalists-hasina|url-status=live}}

= Harassment of his family members =

On 18 July 2020, plainclothes policemen picked up six of Noor's family members from his hometown of Amtali in Barguna. They were taken to Amtali police station, where his father was forced to call Noor and ask him to remove all video posts from his Facebook page,{{cite news |title=Harassment of Bangladeshi blogger's family condemned |url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/harassment-of-bangladeshi-bloggers-family-condemned/88873 |access-date=30 November 2021 |work=UCA News |date=22 July 2020 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130120928/https://www.ucanews.com/news/harassment-of-bangladeshi-bloggers-family-condemned/88873 |url-status=live }} leading international human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Asian Human Rights Commission and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights to raise their concern about the incident.{{cite web |title=Bangladesh: Authorities must refrain from harassing family members of human rights defenders in exile. |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/bangladesh-authorities-must-not-harass-family-of-hrds-in-exile/ |website=Amnesty International |date=7 August 2020 |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130121945/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/bangladesh-authorities-must-not-harass-family-of-hrds-in-exile/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|date=24 October 2020|title=Bangladesh: Stop Intimidating Activists, Victims' Families|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/10/24/bangladesh-stop-intimidating-activists-victims-families|access-date=3 December 2021|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203172631/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/10/24/bangladesh-stop-intimidating-activists-victims-families|url-status=live}}

Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, a researcher on South Asia at Amnesty International, has stated that “the harassment of Asad’s family is not an isolated incident. It is part of a worrying pattern targeting families of human rights defenders in exile,” he also added “The harassment of families, to muzzle human rights defenders in exile from Bangladesh, is utterly reprehensible. Such tactics of intimidation must be stopped immediately.”{{Cite web |date=7 August 2020 |title=Bangladeshi authorities must immediately stop harassing and intimidating the family members of human rights defenders |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/bangladesh-authorities-must-not-harass-family-of-hrds-in-exile/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130121945/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/08/bangladesh-authorities-must-not-harass-family-of-hrds-in-exile/ |archive-date=30 November 2021 |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}}

UN Special rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief Ahmed Shaheed said: “We express grave concern at the alleged persecution and prosecution of Mr. Noor, for the exercise of his human rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, opinion and expression.”{{Cite news |date=21 November 2020 |title=UN rights experts urge Bangladesh to investigate violations regarding Asad Noor's case |url=https://humanists.international/2020/11/un-rights-experts-urge-bangladesh-to-investigate-violations-regarding-asad-noors-case/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201112955/https://humanists.international/2020/11/un-rights-experts-urge-bangladesh-to-investigate-violations-regarding-asad-noors-case/ |archive-date=1 December 2021 |access-date=7 May 2022 |work=Humanists International |language=en-US}}

In 2021, during a General Debate at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Humanists International's Advocacy Officer Lillie Ashworth raised the issue of Asad Noor's persecution and demanded justice for him. She also expressed her concerns about the harassment of Noor's family members by Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies and reminded Bangladesh of its ‘moral and legal obligation’ to protect the rights of human rights activists.