Back in February, author Dr. Avijit Roy (below) and his wife Rafida Bonya Ahmed were returning home from a book fair in Dhaka, Bangladesh where they were promoting Roy’s latest work when two assailants came after them with cleavers and “hacked them mercilessly.”

Roy died shortly afterwards. Ahmed later issued a public statement in which she claimed “the local police stood close by and did not act” while they were being attacked.

Over the weekend, we learned that Asim Umar, the leader of the Indian branch of Al Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the murder of Roy, another atheist blogger Rajib Haider, and several others:

“They have taught a lesson to blasphemers in France, Denmark, Pakistan and now in Bangladesh,” Mr. Umar said in the video, which was translated and published by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity online. He went on to urge his followers to carry out more attacks, saying, “Where are those who would kill these blasphemers, wherever they may be found, even if it has to be done using a dagger or a knife, and by doing so record their names on the Day of Judgment among the devotees of the prophet?”

Threats of more attacks… all because some brave writers dare to question the idea of faith. Thanks again, Religion of Peace.

(Image via Wikipedia. Portions of this article were published earlier)



