Human Rights Groups Decry ‘War Crimes’ Charges Against Bangladeshi Reporters

Human‑rights organisations have expressed deep alarm over the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal's decision to charge three journalists with crimes against humanity for their involvement in the July 2024 protests. Justice Makers Bangladesh in France described the accusations as "extremely concerning," noting that no credible evidence satisfies the stringent standards required for war‑crimes allegations.

Founding chair Shahnoor Islam warned that the current BNP‑led government appears to be weaponising the judicial system to silence dissent, calling the practice "political retaliation and intimidation." The statement emphasized that journalism, criticism, and even unpopular viewpoints should never be equated with atrocities.

International bodies, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have urged Bangladeshi authorities to drop the case and refrain from treating news reporting as a criminal act.