Bangladesh: Islam remains state religion

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Bangladesh | 15 April 2016

Reuters reported on 28 March 2016 that Bangladesh"s High Court dismissed a petition seeking to remove the naming of Islam as state religion in the country"s constitution. Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Whereas the High Court"s decision does not come as a real surprise, Bangladesh remains unique in being the only country worldwide claiming to be a secular state and at the same time officially naming Islam as state religion. In an increasingly tense religious situation where more and more members of the religious minorities - including Christians - are targeted by radical Muslims, the High Court did not apparently consider it the appropriate time for clarification. Apart from the religious situation, political tensions reached another peak with the recent arrest warrant issued against opposition leader Khaleda Zia over an anti-government petrol bomb attack in January 2015. As Reuters reported on 3 April 2016, she is seeking bail."