Workers' Liberty

In India the liberal feminist Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin is being threatened with expulsion from India in the aftermath of Islamist protests against her criticisms of religious fundamentalism.

After violent demonstrations in November the writer, who recently released a new book Women Have No Country, was rushed out of her home in Kolkata (Calcutta), then taken to Rajasthan and finally a safe house in New Delhi, to which she is not allowed to invite visitors.

Nasrin has angrily criticised her treatment by the Indian government – not only have they locked her away under pressure from Islamists, but Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi says Taslima Nasreen should apologise “with her hands folded” to the Muslims of India for hurting their religious sentiments.

Instead, she wants to publish in freedom and say what she thinks, vowing to stay in India and continue to fight for women’s rights.