ARC condemns arrest of Bangladeshi rapper Hannan
Hannan, who gained popularity for his song "Awaaz Utha", was arrested on 25 July in Narayanganj
The Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), a project of PEN America dedicated to assisting endangered artists, has condemned the arrest of Bangladeshi rapper Hannan Hossain Shimul and demanded his immediate release.
"Hannan's arbitrary arrest is the most recent in a series of brutal and systematic attacks on free expression in Bangladesh," said Adam Shapiro, senior manager of International Programs at ARC said in a statement issued today (1 August).
"The lack of transparency surrounding his arrest further compounds the utter disregard to due process and basic human rights that has been on display by the Bangladeshi authorities. ARC calls for the immediate release of Hannan, and stands in solidarity with the people of Bangladesh as they confront brutal repression by the Bangladeshi security forces," he said.
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Hannan, who gained popularity for his song "Awaaz Utha", was arrested on 25 July in Narayanganj. He was placed on a two-day remand yesterday (31 July).
Hannan and a few friends were apprehended by the police while returning home after attending a funeral prayer. The police allegedly discovered video footage of recent protests on their mobile phones, leading to their detention as suspects, as per local media reports.
His hit song "Awaaz Utha" was released on 18 July with a caption saying, "We are not in opposition to any organization; instead, we seek to amplify the voices of our peers and shed light on the issues affecting our country. This is BANGLADESH."
Awaaz Utha is currently the 9th track on YouTube's trending list.
