Taslima Nasrin is a Humanist Activist who was facing death threats from the same Al-Qaeda-linked extremists who have claimed responsibility for the assassination of three other Bangladeshi bloggers in recent months, including
Avijit Roy. However, thanks to the quick action of some compassionate Humanist bloggers, as well as many members of the Center for Inquiry, she is in the United States and safely out of harm's way.
Ed Brayton, founder of FreeThoughtBlogs, and who also deserves a lot of credit in helping to secure Nasrin's safety, describes the events leading up to Nasrin's rescue at his blog.
On May 5th, the night before I was leading a civics/lobby day for CFI Michigan, I got an email from Taslima that included a link to this news report from India about the direct threat made on her life by the same people who murdered Avijit Roy and two other atheist bloggers in Bangladesh. She had been living in India, a few hundred miles from where those murders took place.
When I got this email, I was on my way to Lansing to meet with Michael De Dora, head of CFI’s Office of Public Policy, who was helping lead the lobby day. Michael and I had talked a few times in the past year or so about the need for some sort of program that would help get atheists who are at great risk, primarily in Muslim countries, to the West where they could be safe. We both agreed that it would be best if one of the big atheist/humanist groups would do it.
Brayton goes on to passionately describe what Nasrin represents to the Humanist community.
A few words about Taslima, if you don’t know who she is. Taslima is a renaissance woman — a poet, novelist, physician and activist for atheism, humanism and feminism. That activism got her exiled from her native Bangladesh more than 20 years ago and put a high price on her head from Muslim extremists. She lived in Europe after being exiled, but settled in India in 2004. Alas, that was temporary as she was chased out of Kolkata and had to move to New Delhi.
She has spent the last 20+ years moving and hiding, never feeling truly safe, but the danger to her life has never been higher than it is now. Everyone involved in this process has been terrified for her and desperate to get her to where she would no longer have to hide in the shadows or look over her shoulder. Taslima is a beacon of light in the humanist community and a shining example of courage in the face of barbarism and brutality.
Among the many people most likely involved in securing Nasrin's safety, Brayton highlights CFI's President, Ron Lindsay, as well as Michael De Dora, Debbie Goddard and Martina Fern for their outstanding efforts.
PhysioProf, another FreeThoughtBlogs blogger, provided miles that allowed them to get Nasrin an airplane ticket out of India right away.
While Brayton and the others should be commended for the great work they have put in to protect such a brave soul from the most heinous of criminals, it just another reminder of all the great selfless work and charity that many other Atheists and Humanists, frankly, rarely ever get credit for.
Living in America, where Atheists are regular punching bags, it is sometimes quite humbling to remember just how much more perilous it is to be Atheist out in other parts of the world. It is for that reason that it also so uplifting when those of us who are non-religious can join forces to help another secularist, and accomplish these great, admirable deeds. Even if the rest of the world continues to characterize Atheists as lacking in morals.
Regardless, nobody should have to be in fear for their life simply for espousing their personal views, atheist, religious, or otherwise, and for this reason all the people involved have shown a tremendous dedication to this ideal, and should be celebrated.
The Center for Inquiry is a nonprofit organization that works to "foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values."
You can read the CFI's press release here.
Here is a link to an emergency fund where you can donate to help with Nasrin's situation, as well possibly other dissidents facing similar threats.