2007 Bangladesh cartoon controversy

February 2026 thumb|upright|The cartoon which caused the controversy The 2007 Bangladesh cartoon controversy began after an editorial cartoon was published in the 431st edition of Alpin (supplement) Alpin bn আলপিন (ক্রোড়পত্র), a featured supplement of the Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo, on 17 September 2007. The cartoon featured a conversation between an elderly man and a boy culminating in the boy making a joke using the name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.21 September 2007 Violence over Bangladesh cartoon https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7006528.stm BBC News 25 September 2007 Bangladeshi Muslim organisations, who objected to the cartoon, responded by holding public protests which led to violence and street clashes, even though such demonstrations have been banned by the interim caretaker government. Arifur Rahman, the author of the cartoon, was arrested and detained while the publishers have publicly apologised.Majumder Azad 21 September 2007 Bangladesh suspends magazine over controversial cartoon https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-cartoon-idUSSP17474120070921 Reuters 18 December 2015 Controversy On 17 September 2007, a cartoon titled Naam (Name) was published in the 431st edition of Alpin. The cartoon, by 20-year-old cartoonist Arifur Rahman, featured a conversation between an elderly man and a boy. The controversy regarded the text rather than the pictures as had been the case in previous such incidents. When the boy was asked what his name was, he omitted the prefix Muhammad, used by some Muslims to show respect to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The elder informed him that he should use the prefix in front of all names. In the final strip, the man asked the boy what was in his lap to which he replied "Muhammad cat".http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1189959282159&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout Anti-Prophet Cartoon in Bangladesh IslamOnline 20 September 2007 25 September 2007November 2015 The country's mainly Muslim population regarded the publication of the cartoon in their holy month of Ramadhan as a deliberate attempt to ridicule Muhammad, who is highly revered by Muslims, and ignite unrest in the country. Demonstrations were held the following day in major cities, even though such protests were made unlawful by the interim caretaker government earlier in 2007.22 September 2007 'Alpin' cartoon protesters clash with police http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/old/more.php?page=detail_news&date=2007-09-22&news_id=11999 The Financial Express Dhaka 25 September 2007 Formal representations were made by Muslim leaders to the government during meetings held on 18 September with calls for revoking the license of the newspaper, Prothom Alo. The government banned the sale of the 431st issue and instructed the authorities to seize all printed copies while urging the public to exercise self-restraint, and arrested Arifur Rahman. In a statement released by Prothom Alo, editor Matiur Rahman apologised, expressing regret for publishing the cartoon.Rahman Imran Over 50 Injured in Dhaka Clashes https://www.arabnews.com/node/303671 Arab News 22 September 200718 September 2007 Cartoonist Liton arrested for drawing ‘objectionable’ cartoon The Independent Dhaka UNB the government has banned the 431st issue of ‘Alpin’, a weekly supplement ... all copies of the ‘Alpin’ of the Daily Prothom Alo, Year 9, Issue 310, September 17, 2007 have been banned ... The Prothom Alo authorities withdrew the Alpin issue, expressed regret and sought apology for publishing the cartoon. He stated that the "unedited, unapproved and unacceptable" cartoon is being withdrawn and would be "taking actions against the persons responsible". However, religious clerics of the country continued their outcry and demanded the arrest of Matiur Rahman and Prothom Alo's publisher, Mahfuz Anam. Rahman's trial In 2007, after publishing the cartoon large demonstrations were held in Bangladesh and the cartoonist Arifur Rahman was indicted and tried multiple times. Rahman was jailed under Bangladesh's emergency laws. Dhaka court Rahman was charged with "hurting religious sentiments" under Penal Code Section 295A and given a thirty-day detention order; this was later extended for an additional three months. Amnesty International designated Rahman a prisoner of conscience and called for his "immediate and unconditional release".https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/52000/asa130012008eng.pdf Memorandum to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh and political parties 10 January 2008 Amnesty International 19 April 2012 Reporters Without Borders also issued a statement on his behalf calling for his release, saying, "The government should not yield to pressure from extremist leaders who are trying to politicise the case. Rahman should not be made a scapegoat. He must be freed."http://en.rsf.org/bangladesh-cartoonist-arrested-over-harmless-19-09-2007,23700.html Cartoonist Arrested Over Harmless Play on Name Mohammed 19 September 2007 Reporters Without Borders 19 April 2012 23 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130623071552/http://en.rsf.org/bangladesh-cartoonist-arrested-over-harmless-19-09-2007,23700.html dead The cartoonist was arrested for six months and two days, arrested 18 September 2007,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7003514.stm Cartoonist jailed in Bangladesh 19 September 2007 12 July 2019https://ifex.org/cartoonist-arrested-over-harmless-play-on-name-mohammed/ Cartoonist arrested over harmless play on name Mohammed 19 September 2007 IFEX 12 July 2019Human Rights in Bangladesh 2007. Arifur Rahman, faced arrest and detention for over six months and released by court order on 20 March 2008, after the police officer who filed a case against him repeatedly failed to appear in court.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7307648.stm Cartoonist released in Bangladesh BBC News 20 March 2008 12 July 2019 Jessore court On 12 November 2009, a Jessore court was handed down two months of rigorous imprisonment to cartoonist Arifur Rahman, also have to pay Tk 500 in fine or another seven days in prison.https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2009/11/12/cartoonist-arif-sentenced-to-two-months Cartoonist Arif sentenced to two months bdnews24.com 12 July 2019 See also Editorial cartoon Controversies Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy Islam and blasphemy References 40em External links Alpin archive Category:Islam-related controversies in Asia Category:Islam in Bangladesh Category:Cartoon controversies Category:Editorial cartooning cartoon controversy