Ten Nobel laureates and 13 eminent personalities have called for the release of internationally acclaimed photographer, journalist and human rights activist Shahidul Alam, who has been under detention since August 5.
Shahidul was detained from his residence in Dhanmondi, Dhaka by the Detective Branch of Police (DB) on the night of August 5. A case was filed against him under section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, on charges of spreading fabricated information, rumours, and false information against the government via social media during the student movement for road safety that sparked after two college students were killed by a bus in the Airport Road, Dhaka, on July 29.
Later, Shahidul was produced before the Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, where the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate placed him under a seven-day remand.
On August 12, on the order issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate on the 7th day of his detention, the 63-year-old photographer was sent to jail, without the presence of a lawyer.
The Nobel laureates and eminent personalities raised their joint voices against the police remand under what has been termed as the "draconian" ICT Act, and urged the government to investigate allegations of the unlawful arrest.
They also asked the government to immediately release all students who have been arrested after the protest, and to take every step to ensure human rights of all citizens, including freedom of speech, freedom of media and freedom of association for all.
1984 Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman, 1976 Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, 1976 Nobel Peace Laureate Betty Williams, 1987 Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias, 1993 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine Sir Richard J Roberts, 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, Former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, Business Leader and Philanthropist Sir Richard Branson, Film Director and SDG Advocate Richard Curtis, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Mo Ibrahim, Global Social Activist David Jones, Entrepreneur and Internet Activist Jerome Jarre, Human Rights Activist Kerry Kennedy, Voice of Libyan Women, SDG Advocate Alaa Murabit, Writer and Human Rights Activist Marina Mahathir, Global Youth Movement Leader Ella Robertson, Global Social Activist Kate Robertson, Actress and Human Rights Activist Sharon Stone and Internet Entrepreneur Jimmy Wales are the ones who asked for the release.
