HYEDERABAD, 10 August 2007 — Angry protesters yesterday roughed up the exiled Bangladeshi author, Taslima Nasreen, here yesterday.
The controversial novelist was attacked by lawmakers and members of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party at a book release function at Hyderabad Press Club, sparking angry protests by journalists demanding action against the attackers.
Though Taslima escaped unhurt, intellectual Inaiah Nanisetti received an injury on his face that drew blood. The author was saved by some participants and journalists present at the function.
Three legislators of MIM and about 100 workers of the party barged into the press club around noon when Taslima was attending a function to release the Telugu translation of her book “Sokhe.”
Shouting slogans against the author, the MIM activists threw bouquets and books kept on the dais. Taslima was shielded by Inaiah, two other authors present on the dais and a few journalists.
Protesting her anti-Islam writings, legislators Ahmed Pasha Khadri, Afsar Khan and Moazzam Khan moved menacingly toward the author. Moazzam Khan even lifted a chair to attack her. “How dare you write against the Prophet (peace be upon him),” said Afsar Khan.
Police rushed to the scene and escorted the author under tight security to the airport. She later flew back to Kolkata, where she is living in exile following a “fatwa” issued against her by Muslim groups in Bangladesh for her book “Lajja.”
The MIM activists continued their protest in the press club premises and had an argument with the journalists. They later staged a sit-in in front of the club, disrupting traffic on the busy Somajiguda Road.
Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh said the three MIM legislators were arrested in connection with the incident. Some others were also taken into custody and shifted to Panjagutta police station.
