Choudhury in court

Shoaib Choudhury does really seem to hold out no hope for himself. The opening day of his trial was Monday and he has written an account of it and published it in Israelinsider. Since what they want to hang him for is the fact that he considers Israelis people like anyone else and acts accordingly, his approach seems to be 'I might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb'. Or is he raising the stakes in the hope of attracting more international interest? If so, the best of luck to him.

He quotes the charge as read out in court.

"By praising the Jews and Christians, by attempting to travel to Israel and by predicting the so-called rise of Islamist militancy in the country and expressing such through writings inside the country and abroad, you have tried to damage the image and relations of Bangladesh with the outside world. For which, charges under section 295-A, 120-A, 124-A, 105-A and 108-A are brought against you."

The trial is set to resume on the 22nd of January.

An article by Janet Albrechtsen in The Australian about why this story is important, and what part Bangladesh might soon be playing in al-Queda's war.