Xulhaz Mannan was in his apartment with a colleague when men wielding machetes burst in and brutally murdered them.
Both men were killed in front of Xulhaz's 75-year-old mother.
Xulhaz was a founder of Bangladesh's only LGBTQI magazine. A daring venture in a country where same-sex relations are illegal. His attackers are believed to belong to Ansar al-Islam, the same extremist group responsible for a spate of similar assaults on bloggers promoting atheism, feminism, science and other secular issues.
Over a year since the April 2016 attack, no one has been charged for the murders despite ample evidence including eyewitness testimony and CCTV footage.
To compound the matter further, the government has shifted blame onto the victims. A government minister stated that movements promoting "unnatural sex" are not allowed in Bangladeshi society.
This unwillingness to find and charge Xulhaz's killers sends a devastating message to courageous LGBTQI activists. Will you stand with the brave?
Join our call on the Bangladeshi authorities to bring Xulhaz's killers to justice.
Dear Home Minister
I am very concerned about the murder of Xulhaz Mannan, founder of Bangladesh’s only LGBTIQ magazine, and his colleague.
I call on you to ensure that the brutal murder of Xulhaz Mannan and his colleague is duly investigated and that the perpetrators are arrested.
I also call on you to repeal of section 377 of the Bangladeshi penal code, which criminalises same sex relations.
[Your comments here]
Please ensure adequate protection to secular and LGBTIQ activists and bloggers.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
