Activists of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), led by three legislators, attacked Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen in Hyderabad on Thursday while she was releasing the Telugu translation of her Bengali novel Shodh (Revenge).
Nasrin escaped unhurt as the organisers pushed back about 100 protesters, including the three bellicose Islamist lawmakers. In the melee, one of the protesters slapped her. A journalist, Innaih Narisetti, was also injured oin the melee.
The protesters burst into the local Press Club shouting slogans describing Nasrin as "anti-Muslim" and "anti-Islam." They ransacked the venue, throwing chairs in the air and overturning the tables. the marauders were led by MLAs Afsar Khan, Ahmed Pasha and Mouzam Khan.
Nasrin fled Bangladesh in 1994 when Islamic extremists threatened to kill her after an Indian newspaper quoted her as saying changes must be made to the Islamic holy book, the Quran, to give women more rights. She has denied making the statements, but still faces death threats from Islamic hardliners in Bangladesh.
"Our protest is against Taslima Nasrin because of her writings ridiculing Islam. We want the Indian government to send her back to Bangladesh," said Ahmad Pasha Quadri, one of the lawmakers, on Thursday.
After fleeing Bangladesh, Nasrin lived in Sweden for several years but eventually moved to India, where she has lived in Calcutta for the last two years. She has applied for Indian citizenship or a permanent resident status.
" I believe in democracy. I hope to live safely in this country as a democrat. The people who attacked me are in a minority. I get support and sympathy from a majority of people. I thank them," she tolc CNN-IBN. [Link]
