Amnesty International renews call for repeal of DSA after Kajol’s release

Online Desk: International rights group Amnesty International on Friday renewed its call for the repeal of Digital Security Act following the release of journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol from jail.

Kajol was released from Dhaka Central Jail Friday a week the High Court granted him bail two cases filed under DSA.

Two ruling party leaders filed the cases against Kajol for allegedly defaming the lawmaker for Magura-1, Saifuzzaman Shikhor, through sharing a report.

The two cases were filed after Shikhor had filed a case against Kajol on March 10 under the DSA over the same allegation of defaming him by disseminating the report.

In response to Kajol’s release from prison, Saad Hammadi, Amnesty International’s South Asia campaigner, urged the authorities to drop the cases against him.

‘It’s a relief to know that Kajol has been freed, after two months of disappearance and seven months in detention for his posts on Facebook,’ Hammadi said in a statement.

‘We hope that the authorities will drop the cases against Kajol, and release all those who have been detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression in line with Bangladesh’s commitments under the international human rights law,’ he added.

‘The Digital Security Act in its current form does not define the necessity and proportionality of the penalties, as articulated in the framework of the international human rights law with regards to the restriction on freedom of expression,’ said the campaigner.

‘As a result, state agencies can still abuse the law, with no safeguards in place for people to seek redress for such violations. The authorities must immediately repeal the Digital Security Act unless it can be amended in compliance with the international human rights law, and in consultation with members of the media and civil society,’ he added.

Kajol went missing after he had left his office on March 10, a day after lawmaker Shikhor filed the case.

He remained missing for 52 days before Board Guard Bangladesh personnel found him near the border in Jashore on May 3.

The BGB filed a case against him for trespassing and handed him over to the Benapole port police station.

He was later sent to Jashore Central Jail.