Geneva, May 1, 2025 — Three senior United Nations human rights experts have issued a formal communication to the Government of Bangladesh expressing grave concern over the arrest, prosecution, and continued detention of prominent journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, who have been charged with murder and inciting murder following their coverage of student-led protests in 2024.
In a detailed letter addressed to the government, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers jointly raised serious questions about the legal basis of the charges and the treatment of the detained journalists. The communication, made public on Wednesday, urges the government to uphold its obligations under international human rights law.
Rupa and Ahmed, both former journalists at Ekattor TV and contributors to France 24, were arrested on August 21, 2024, at Dhaka airport while attempting to travel to France. Their names had appeared in a controversial public letter accusing 50 journalists of supporting the previous government’s crackdown on student protesters. They were later charged with murder and inciting murder related to an August 5 demonstration, despite, according to the UN experts, a lack of presented evidence linking them to the alleged crimes.
In the letter, the UN experts stated that the charges against the journalists appear to be “directly linked to their work” and “may constitute a violation of their right to freedom of expression.” The letter also noted that Rupa was transferred to a “condemnation cell”—a facility typically reserved for death row inmates—where she has been denied access to phone calls and regular visits, including from her lawyer.
“The health conditions of both journalists have reportedly deteriorated significantly,” the experts noted, highlighting the psychological and physical toll of their detention. They also expressed alarm over reports that more than 140 journalists have been accused of serious crimes, including 28 charged with “crimes against humanity” for their reporting on the 2024 protests.
The communication emphasizes Bangladesh’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), particularly regarding freedom of expression, protection from arbitrary detention, and the right to a fair trial. The experts urged the government to provide detailed information on the journalists’ legal status, conditions of detention, and ensure that all charges meet international standards of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
“If the charges are unsubstantiated,” the letter states, “we further urge their immediate release.”
The UN also reminded the government that the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention may launch a formal procedure to determine whether the detention of the journalists is arbitrary under international law.
The letter is expected to be made public through the UN’s human rights communications platform within 60 days, along with any official response from the Government of Bangladesh.
As international attention mounts, press freedom advocates are calling for transparency and due process in the case, warning of a broader crackdown on media in the country.