Activists voice concern over shrinking space for free speech, rise in harassment lawsuits
The event, titled “Satire, Memes and Cartoons: Freedom of Expression or Defamation?”, was jointly organised by Citizen Coalition and the satire-based website earki at the National Press Club.
Rights activists, lawyers and media professionals have voiced strong criticism over the shrinking space for freedom of expression, the rise of harassing lawsuits, and what they described as the selective application of state power.
"Those in power suppress anyone who does not align with their thinking. Simply questioning the powerful creates problems. This selective application of freedom of expression is dangerous for society," said renowned photographer Shahidul Alam while addressing an event, titled "Satire, Memes and Cartoons: Freedom of Expression or Defamation?", jointly organised by Citizen Coalition and the satire-based website "earki" at the National Press Club today (6 December).
"Feedback mechanisms sharpen a system, but society is abandoning that practice. When you close the space for questions, you create systemic flaws", he added.
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Speaking about the legal process, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain asked, "Is it normal to go to the Home Ministry or the DB office, have discussions, and then file a case? Who is being allowed this privilege, and why?"
"People are being intimidated with lawsuits; they will face court and jail before anything else. Those filing cases against memers (meme creators) and cartoonists once claimed to be fighting for democracy," she added.
Barrister Hossain also pointed to media reports that earki's name was removed from the complaint after it was filed. "How is this possible? I do not understand this legal process. If the complainant (the DUCSU VP) shares this 'special procedure', thousands falsely accused in cases could find relief," she said.
Veteran cartoonist Ahsan Habib said, "There are many problems around us, but we must still laugh because humour is essential. I strongly protest the case filed against E-Yarki. We want a healthy and humane society."
Writer and organiser Firoz Ahmed criticised what he termed hypocrisy. "Those with the worst record of launching abusive attacks against women online are now filing cases. It appears only their women are women; other women do not matter."
Referring to attacks on Baul singers, he said, "Village folk songs often involve playful mockery, yet end with warm embraces. Such tolerance is no longer seen among the educated middle class."
Popular cartoonist Mehedi Haque said, "'Tolerance is the highest form of intelligence. Those with lower intelligence are the ones who get offended easily by cartoons or satire. A key indicator of democracy and civilisation is how comfortably a nation's leaders and politicians can handle satire."
Editor of satire portal E-Yarki Shimu Naser said, "The complainant did not file the case against the memers based on personal or party decisions. He lodged this harassing case only after consulting the home affairs adviser, a special assistant, and the DMP commissioner."
She added, "It is extremely alarming that a party-affiliated individual, after consulting the government, is filing a harassing case against a group of memers."
Earlier on 1 December, Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) Vice President Abu Sadik Kayem filed a case at the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) office alleging online defamation and cyberbullying targeting female leaders.
The complaint listed nine pages and accounts, including Ducsu Konthoshor, BongoGraph, Amar DUCSU, The Nationalist Data, Katherkella, Roumari, DU Insiders (with its multiple name changes), earki and BotGPT, along with three personal profiles: Enamul Haque Shanto, Ashiqur Rahman and Saif Al Mahmud.
Following widespread criticism, he later removed the name of the satire page "earki" from the complaint.
