A victim's bold stance against fatwa

Mind you, Efzalul is only a day labourer, and yet, his poor family's act of valour proclaims a social message that must inspire all future sufferers of extremist edict to protest and resist it.

The principled husband's rejection of the fatwa should have been the end of the matter. But that was not to be. The couple has since been persecuted from the village by those vicious abusers of religion. There is more -- this criminal act on top of the fatwa malignancy, both highly culpable offences: having repeatedly warned his parents, Alef Uddin and Razia Khatun of dire consequences if their son didn't comply with the fatwa, the religious fanatics attacked their house and seriously wounded his parents as nothing had gone their way.

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The local law enforcers are clearly under the microscope. They failed to prevent the brewing fatwa before the storm actually landed on the poor couple, and have not arrested anyone, even though Efzalul had filed a case with the police station and the culprits who are known figures, have been named.

If the police do not stand by a righteous cause associated with the much abused fatwa, how can they make friends among people? They must coalesce with the human rights groups coming in aid of fatwa victims in this case Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Blast).