Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh
Amir | Muhibbullah Babunagari | |
Secretary General | Sajidur Rahman | |
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Key people | Shah Ahmad Shafi Junaid Babunagari,Muhibbullah Babunagari Mamunul Haque |
Part of a series on the |
Deobandi movement |
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Ideology and influences |
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Founders and key figures |
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Notable institutions |
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Centres (markaz) of Tablighi Jamaat |
Associated organizations |
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh (Bengali: হেফাজতে ইসলাম বাংলাদেশ) is a far-right conservative-islamic advocacy group consisted mostly of hard-line religious teachers and students.[2][3][4][5][6] The group is mainly based on qawmi madrasas in Bangladesh. In 2013, they submitted a 13-point charter to the Government of Bangladesh, which included the demand for the enactment of a blasphemy law.[7][8]
History
Hefazat-e-Islam was formed in 2010, as a pressure group comprising the teachers of several madrasas at Chittagong, Bangladesh.[4] The formation was allegedly triggered by the 2009 "Women Development Policy" draft.[9] On 24 February 2010, Hefazat wanted to hold a rally at Laldighi Maidan, Chittagong to protest the government's move to slap a ban on religion-based politics, cancellation of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, and a proposed education policy that would have ended madrasah education.[2][3] The police refused their request to hold a rally and injured 19 protesters.[2] A few of these madrasa students were arrested by police and later released.[10] In 2011, Hefajat-e-Islam protested some aspects of the proposed Women Development Policy.[11][12]
According to The Economist, Hefazat is financed by doctrinaire Islamists in Saudi Arabia.[13]
13-point demand agitation
In 2013 Hefajat-e-Islam was reformed after the allegation that some of the protesters in the
The 13 points of the Islamist group includes:[19]
- Restore the phrase "Complete faith and trust in the Almighty Allah" in the constitution.[citation needed]
- Pass a law in parliament keeping a provision of the capital punishment of death sentence to prevent defaming Islam.
- Taking measures for stringent punishment of self-declared atheists and Prophet Muhammad. Also taking steps to stop the spread of "propaganda".[20]
- Stopping infiltration of all "alien-culture", including "shamelessness" in the name of individual's freedom of expression, anti-social activities, adultery, free mixing of males and females and candle-lighting.[14] Women must be encouraged to wear hijab and their overall security must be ensured. Stopping harassment of women, open fornication and adultery, sexual harassment, all forms of violence against women and an end to the tradition of dowry.[20]
- Make Islamic education mandatory from primary to higher secondary levels cancelling the women policy and anti-religion education policy.
- Officially declare
- Stopping erection of sculptures at intersections, schools, colleges and universities across the country.[citation needed]
- Lifting restrictions on Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.[14]
- Stopping Anti-Islamic content in media.[20]
- Halt to anti-Islam activities by NGOs across the country, including in the Christian state.[2]
- Stop attacks and ulema.[14]
- Stopping harassment of teachers and students of ulema.[14]
- Freedom for all arrested madrassa students and withdrawal of all cases filed against them, compensation for the victims, and bringing the assailants to justice.[14]
Long march in April 2013
On 6 April 2013, Hefazat-e-Islam organized a long march towards the
5–6 May protests
On 5 May 2013, Hefajat arranged a rally at the capital city, Dhaka, in the demand of their 13 points.
In the early hours of 6 May security forces, drawn from
Casualties
According to government estimates, the number of casualties in this operation was 11, including a few law enforcement members,[40] while the Daily Star gave as little as 5 deaths.[41] This figure was dismissed by Human Rights Watch and other news agencies.[42] Hefazat and the BNP initially claimed that 2000-3000 had been killed in the operations.[35] British journalist confirmed that at least 36 people had died.[43][44] which is also rejected by government. According to The Economist, European diplomats, as many as 50 people were killed in Dhaka, which didn't provide any diplomat's name.[39][44] Because of the differing views,
On 6 May, the protests spread across the country. In Narayanganj, students and teachers of a local madrasa held protests and blockaded the Dhaka-Chittagong highway.[48][49][50] In return, police fired several hundred gunshots, killing 27 people. In Hathazari Upazila, Chittagong, six people were shot dead by police. In Bagerhat, one Hefazat member died in a clash between protesters and police.[48]
Lawsuits
The government has filed 12 cases against top leaders of the Hefazat-e Islam for murder, vandalism, arson and destruction of properties and other charges,
Secularism lawsuit
In 2016 secular activists led by
Lady Justice statue
In 2017 supporters of Hefazat-e Islam protested against the display of a figure of the
2021 anti-Modi protests
On the news of arrival of Narendra Modi during Bangladesh 50th year of independence celebrations on 26 March. Accusing Modi of being anti-Muslim, Hefazat-e-Islam started protesting against invitation of Modi. "A leader like Modi should not attend the [Independence Day] event who continues to persecute Muslims in India," said Nurul Islam, leader of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.[62][63][64]
26-28 March protests
After the arrival of Narendra Modi in Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam supporters gathered at
Hundreds of Hefazat demonstrators returned to the streets of Dhaka on Saturday. Clashes were reported from many parts of the country.
Leadership
Controversy
This article's "criticism" or "controversy" section may compromise the article's neutrality. (August 2023) |
Allegations of links with Jamaat e Islami
The
Allegations of links with pro-Taliban leaders
Maulana Habibur Rahman, a madrasa principal of Sylhet and one of the organizers of Hefazat-e Islam's 5 May protest, claimed that he met Osama bin Laden, with members of the banned militant organization Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami, in 1998.[76] However, Hefazat leaders have condemned Harkat-ul Jihad al-Islami and Al Qaeda and its leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.[77] In 2014 spokesman Azizul Haque Islamabadi said:[77][78]
There is prevailing a congenial and peaceful environment in Bangladesh. People are living in peace and in such a situation the announcement by Al Qaeda chief Zawahiri has made the people fearful and worried. Bangladesh had experienced earlier militant activities and terrorism by Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Harkat-ul Jihad. But they could not emerge successful and Al Qaeda would not come out successful in Bangladesh despite their announcement.
Explosion at affiliated madrasa
On 7 October 2013, an explosion occurred at a madrasah run by Hefazat-e-Islam's leader Mufti Izharul Islam Chowdhury driven Al Jamiatul Ulum Al Islamia Madrasa at Lal Khan Bazar, Chittagong.[79][80][81] Police reportedly seized explosives after the raid.[79][80] The madrasa authorities had claimed that computers' UPS of the school and laptops had exploded.[79]
See also
- List of Deobandi organisations
- Shah Ahmad Shafi
- Islam in Bangladesh
- 2013 Shahbag protests
- 2021 anti-Modi protests in Bangladesh
References
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{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Bangladesh violence spreads after PM Modi visit, attacks on Hindu temples, train". Hindustan Times. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
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Further reading
- Raqib, MA (2020). "Safeguarding Islam' in modern times: Politics, piety and Hefazat-e-Islami 'ulama in Bangladesh". Critical Research on Religion. 8 (3): 235–256. S2CID 225195149.
- Khan, H.M. (2018). "'Uprising's Dialectic Pedagogy: Gramsci, Scott and Mandela against the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam Movement in Bangladesh". Politikon: The IAPSS Journal of Political Science. 36: 82–98. .
External links
- Media related to Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh at Wikimedia Commons