Journalist couple Shakil, Rupa complain to UN over arbitrary detention

Lawyers representing imprisoned journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa have engaged the Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council over their arbitrary detention.

Ekattor Television’s former journalists Shakil and Rupa were arrested on 21 August last year while attempting to leave the country, over two weeks after Sheikh Hasina’s government was toppled.

They were charged with murder and remanded in custody.

On 22 January, lawyers for the family initiated the complaint procedures to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the UN special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, according to Doughty Street Chambers.

The family is represented at the international level by lawyers from Doughty Street Chambers in London and Sydney, led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher said, “Too often the first casualties of political change are journalists and that is exactly what has happened here. This is a case of nothing other than retributive lawfare. The prosecution of these two peaceful TV news workers is vengeful and vindictive and must end.

“Any value in the reforms ushered in by the regime change in Bangladesh will be swept away unless the incoming government fiercely guards the rule of law and maintains the highest standards of probity. We will be calling on the UN to challenge the Bangladeshi government over its actions in this case, and to free Ms Rupa and Mr Ahmed immediately.”

Joining Gallagher on the international legal team for the journalist couple are Matthew Lewis SC, Jonathan Price, and Nikila Kaushik.

Since their arrest, Doughty Street Chambers said, the couple has been subjected to repeated interrogation without access to lawyers, and Rupa has from time to time been held in solitary confinement.

They have been given very restricted access to their family members and lawyers, it said, adding that further charges, meanwhile, have been brought against them.

On 11 November 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) wrote to Bangladesh’s interim leader, Prof Muhammad Yunus, urging him to protect press freedom in his role as chief adviser to the interim government.

CPJ’s Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi said, “Bangladesh’s interim government must protect press freedom and end any political witch hunts. As the interim government’s head engages with world leaders in Davos, Bangladesh must show its commitment to reforms and drop retaliatory charges against journalists, rather than adopting the previous regime’s playbook by using the law to target critics. The media must uphold ethical journalism and be allowed to report without fear or favour in this new political era.”