Hubbry Logo
Salah ChoudhurySalah ChoudhuryMain
Open search
Salah Choudhury
Community hub
Salah Choudhury
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Salah Choudhury
Salah Choudhury
Salah Choudhury
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is a Bangladeshi controversial journalist and fake news peddler who went on to become notorious for several crimes. In 2014, he was convicted of carrying documents provoking interreligious friction, and in 2015 of embezzlement. Fact-checkers have found Choudhury to have posted disinformation on various occasions.

Key Information

Journalism

[edit]

Choudhury is the editor and owner of the English language newspaper Blitz,[5][6] and editor-in-chief of Bangla weekly Jamjamat. Blitz is a tabloid which has been published every Wednesday since 2003 by Choudhury.[7]

The tabloid states that it watches, investigates, and focuses on Islamist militancy groups; and that it defends religious minority groups in Bangladesh.[8]

According to The Baltimore Examiner Choudhury was a correspondent for the Daily Inqilab, as the mouthpiece of the Jamaat-e-Islami backed by Pakistan.[9]

Prosecutions and assaults

[edit]

Choudhury was arrested on 29 November 2003 when he tried to attend a seminar in Tel Aviv at the invitation of the International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace. He was charged with smuggling country information, sedition, treason, and blasphemy in 2003, and a case was filed against him on 24 January 2004 by Mohammad Abdul Hanif, head of Airport Police Station of Dhaka, who claimed that he was a Mossad agent based on the documents found in his possession.[10] Choudhury faced charges of smuggling information out of country, money fraud,[11] sedition, treason, blasphemy, and espionage since January 2004 for attempting to attend a conference of the Hebrew Writers' Association in Tel Aviv. He violated the Passport Act by attempting to travel to Israel in November 2003; the Act forbids citizens from visiting countries with which Bangladesh does not maintain diplomatic relations, and is usually punishable with a fine. On 29 November, he was taken into police custody and allegedly blindfolded, beaten and interrogated for ten days in an attempt to extract a confession that he was an Israeli spy.[12] He spent the next 17 months in solitary confinement and was denied medical treatment for his glaucoma. On the intervention of US Congressman Mark Kirk, who spoke to Bangladesh's ambassador to the US, Choudhury was released on bail, though the charges were not dropped.[13]

In July 2006, the office of Choudhury's newspaper was bombed by Islamist militants.[14][15]

In October 2006, a mob stormed the Blitz' offices and beat Choudhury, fracturing his ankle.[16] According to Bret Stephens, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, in September of the same year, despite the government's reluctance to prosecute, a judge with Islamist connections ordered the case to continue because Choudhury had "spoil[ed] the image of Bangladesh" and "hurt the sentiments of Muslims" by lauding Jews and Christians.[17] After the police detail that had been posted to the offices had left, the offices were ransacked and Choudhury was badly beaten by a mob. When he lodged a formal complaint with the police, an arrest warrant was issued for him. The US Embassy in Dhaka sent an observer to his trial.[citation needed][13]

Choudhury later lodged a case in the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate against his attackers, most of whom were affiliated with the Cultural Wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).[citation needed][17]

On 18 March 2008, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) abducted Choudhury from his office at gunpoint. He was blindfolded and taken to an RAB office before being released. Series of written complaints were sent with the military-controlled interim government on this incident, but action was never taken by the Bangladesh authorities against the RAB.[18][19][17] The RAB also found illegal drugs in Mr. Choudhury's desk drawer.[20]

On 22 February 2009, armed men claiming to belong to the Awami League entered Choudhury's office, ransacked it, and physically assaulted him and other members of the Blitz newspaper.[21]

On March 2011, Aryeh Yosef Gallin, the founder and president of the Root and Branch Association (a nonprofit group that promotes cooperation between Israel and other nations), expelled Choudhury from its Islam-Israel Fellowship after reports accused the Bangladeshi of swindling "emotionally vulnerable single Jewish ladies" out of tens of thousands of dollars.[1]

On 7 November 2012, the Dhaka court sentences Choudhury to be imprisoned for four years rigorous in connection to an embezzlement case filed by his business partner Sajjad Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Center for International Studies. He was convicted in 2015 by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court and sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment.[22][23][24]

On 9 January 2014, he was convicted by a Dhaka court of sedition under section 505 (A) of Bangladesh's Penal Code.[10][25] He was convicted and sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment by the Bangladeshi court for carrying documents provoking interreligious friction, relating to his attempt to travel to Israel.[26][27][28]

The campaign to get the government of Bangladesh to drop all charges against Choudhury was led by Dr. Richard Benkin. Benkin, like Choudhury, is an advisory board member of the Islam-Israel Fellowship.[citation needed][29]

Other controversies

[edit]

As a Fraud

[edit]

In 2012, Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported Choudhury is "fraud according to some Jews in the United States and Israel who once supported him".[30] Jweekly also published the same.[31]

As Pakistani terrorist HuJI Activist

[edit]

In 2010, Bangladesh CID unearthed a nexus between Choudhury alongwith Richard Benkin with Pakistani terrorist organization HuJI, following arrest of Kazi Azizul Haque.[32][33][34]

As Fake news peddler

[edit]

Choudhury has been accused by Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star of falsely claiming that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party launched "India out movement".[35]

In September 2024, the Indian National Congress lodged a police complaint against Choudhury for allegedly spreading fake news against their leaders.[36]

In 2024, he falsely claimed that Rahul Gandhi was standing with Manmohan Singh's daughter Amrit Singh, when the photo showed Gandhi standing with Congress leader Amitabh Dubey and his wife Amulya Gopalakrishnan.[37]

In 2024, he falsely alleged Sonia Gandhi as an ISI agent, following which he faced several FIRs in Indian judiciary.[38][39][40]

In November 2024, he falsely claimed Anusha, the secretary of Karanataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee, to be a wife of Daniel Stephen Courney who was deported from India in 2017. Anusha later filed an FIR against Choudhary.[41]

In June 2025 Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha testified another fake news peddling by Choudhury.[42]

As controversial journalist

[edit]

In 2006, International Freedom of Expression Exchange named Choudhury as a controversial journalist.[43]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Salah Choudhury

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

is a , writer, and editor of the English-language tabloid Weekly Blitz, distinguished for his opposition to , including documentation of the persecution of Bangladesh's Hindu minority and challenges to religious intolerance and radical theology, advocacy against jihadist ideologies, and promotion of interfaith relations, particularly urging recognition of by Muslim-majority nations despite Bangladesh's absence of diplomatic ties with it.
In November 2003, Choudhury was arrested at Dhaka's airport while attempting to travel to to attend a writers' conference, leading to charges of , , and ; he was detained for over 17 months before release on bail and later convicted in 2014 under Section 505(A) of the penal code to seven years' rigorous imprisonment for articles criticizing and portraying negatively.
His principled stance earned him awards such as the Freedom to Write Award in 2005 and the American Jewish Committee's Moral Courage Award in 2006, though he has encountered counter-accusations of fraud and extortion from segments of the international Jewish community he courted for support.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was born on January 12, 1965, at Sylhet Medical College Hospital in , , to Ghulam Ather Choudhuri and Sharifa Choudhury, as their eldest child. He was raised in a within 's predominantly Islamic , which included a significant Hindu minority in Sylhet comprising around 20-30% of the population during the 1960s and 1970s, where conservative religious norms and emerging Islamist currents shaped the cultural environment during the post-independence era. The Enemy Property Act of 1965, enacted during the Indo-Pakistani War and later renamed the Vested Property Act in Bangladesh, facilitated the confiscation of properties primarily from Hindus deemed enemies of the state, altering land ownership dynamics and exacerbating social tensions in multi-confessional regions like Sylhet. Specific details about his upbringing, siblings, or early family dynamics remain scarce in public records, as biographical accounts predominantly emphasize his adult achievements rather than pre-professional life. , his birthplace in northeastern , is known for its strong Islamic heritage and Sufi traditions, providing a backdrop of religious immersion that influenced many in the region during his childhood.

Entry into Journalism

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury commenced his journalism career in 1989 as a correspondent for the Soviet state (Telegraph Agency of the ) in . This role marked his initial foray into professional reporting amid Bangladesh's evolving post-military landscape, following the ouster of President Hossain Mohammad Ershad in 1990, which ushered in multiparty democracy but retained vestiges of authoritarian control over media. In the 1990s, Bangladesh's media sector expanded with the proliferation of private newspapers and the liberalization of broadcasting, yet journalists encountered routine censorship, political intimidation, and arbitrary arrests, particularly under the (BNP) administrations from 1991 to 1996. Government oversight through bodies like the Press Information Department enforced pre-publication scrutiny on "subversive" content, while emerging Islamist organizations, including , amplified pressures against coverage perceived as critical of religious orthodoxy, fostering widespread to avert reprisals. Choudhury's early contributions through and subsequent affiliations involved reporting on domestic affairs, gradually incorporating scrutiny of social and political dynamics in a milieu where open discourse on religious extremism remained fraught, setting the stage for his independent ventures without yet venturing into tabloid publishing. This period of professional grounding occurred against a backdrop of rising Islamist influence in public life, where media outlets often balanced commercial imperatives with avoidance of topics that could provoke fundamentalist backlash or state intervention.

Journalism Career

Founding and Editing Weekly Blitz

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury founded Weekly Blitz in 2003 as an independent tabloid newspaper published every Wednesday from , , with the aim of providing balanced coverage through investigative and opinion-based . The publication operated as a platform for examining events in a context where 's media landscape featured significant government oversight and among outlets. Choudhury served as both editor and publisher, adopting an editorial approach that prioritized unflinching reporting on sensitive issues, often advancing perspectives at odds with prevailing societal and political consensus in the country. This style positioned Weekly Blitz as a in Bangladesh's print media, where many publications avoided confrontational content to evade reprisals under restrictive laws like the Penal Code's provisions. Sustaining the newspaper proved arduous, with financial strains arising from advertisers withdrawing support in response to the tabloid's provocative content, leading to operational disruptions and reliance on limited revenue streams. Security challenges further complicated continuity, as the publication's office endured threats and incidents tied to its , necessitating measures like enhanced precautions for staff and distribution in a volatile environment. Despite these obstacles, Weekly Blitz maintained weekly print runs and expanded to an online edition to broaden reach amid hurdles.

Key Publications and Themes

Weekly Blitz, edited by Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury since its relaunch in 2003, emphasized investigative reporting on Islamist militancy in Bangladesh, including early coverage of local networks linked to global jihadist entities. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the publication was the first Bangladeshi outlet to report on Islamic non-governmental organizations operating under patronage, highlighting their role in funding and radicalization within the country. This empirical focus drew on specific events, such as the emergence of domestic groups like , whose activities Blitz exposed through detailed accounts of recruitment and ideological propagation, contributing to subsequent international scrutiny and bans on such organizations. The tabloid also documented patterns of religious tensions, particularly violence against minorities amid rising Islamist influence during the . Reports detailed attacks on Hindu and Christian communities, including temple desecrations and forced evictions tied to land grabs by radical elements, framing these as symptoms of unchecked rather than isolated incidents. Such coverage extended to analyses of transnational movements like , portraying its organizational structure as a conduit for jihadist ideology under the guise of proselytization, supported by examinations of member overlaps with militant operations. In parallel, Blitz addressed governmental corruption as a causal factor exacerbating militancy and social instability, with articles probing in public institutions and ties between officials and extremist financiers during the politically volatile period leading to the 2006-2008 . These reports relied on leaked documents and accounts to illustrate how graft enabled the proliferation of madrasas and arms smuggling networks. Despite a modest circulation of approximately 25,000 copies sold at a low , the publication encountered distribution hurdles in Bangladesh's domestic market, where readership was limited by widespread aversion to critiques challenging Islamist dominance.

Advocacy and Views

Promotion of Interfaith Dialogue

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has advanced through his editorship of the Weekly Blitz, publishing articles that encourage mutual understanding between and to mitigate religious divisions. In these writings, he highlights shared Abrahamic roots, such as the prophetic role of in both Islamic and Jewish traditions, as a foundation for . His efforts extend to collaborations with international advocates like Dr. Richard Benkin and Dr. Ada Aharoni, focusing on joint initiatives that promote tolerance across religious lines. Choudhury's arguments for rest on pragmatic alignments against , positing that Muslim-Jewish engagement serves common anti-terrorism objectives, as evidenced by patterns of Islamist in . He invokes Bangladesh's 1971 founding as a secular republic under , which enshrined principles of in its original , to contend that interfaith aligns with the nation's historical rejection of theocratic rule in favor of civic harmony. This perspective frames not as ideological concession but as a strategic imperative grounded in Bangladesh's demographic realities—over 90% Muslim yet historically tolerant of minorities—and the empirical rise of radical networks post-independence. Specific initiatives include prepared speeches and op-eds urging normalization of ties between Muslim states and as a model for broader religious , emphasizing reciprocal recognition to dismantle . In a 2007 address, he identified himself as a "Muslim Zionist," underscoring personal commitment to these bridges, which earned recognition from bodies like the for fostering cross-faith solidarity. These endeavors prioritize outreach over confrontation, positioning dialogue as essential for sustaining secular governance amid regional pressures.

Criticism of Islamist Extremism and Jihadism

Choudhury has articulated opposition to Islamist extremism primarily through editorials and reports in Weekly Blitz, emphasizing the post-September 11, 2001, surge in jihadist ideologies infiltrating Bangladesh's institutions and threatening its secular foundations. His analyses highlight how , propagated via in mosques and madrassas, fosters by exploiting socioeconomic vulnerabilities like rates of 20-30 percent, leading to unchecked . In speeches and writings, he argues that concessions by corrupt political parties, such as alliances between the (BNP) and , exacerbate this decay by prioritizing Islamist appeasement over democratic reforms, resulting in societal erosion through increased religious rhetoric and violence against non-Muslims. Weekly Blitz under Choudhury's editorship has documented jihadist group activities, including those of Harakat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI-B), formed in 1992 and responsible for 13 and attacks between 1999 and 2004 that killed 109 people and injured over 700. The publication exposed Jama'atul Mujahideen (JMB), established in 1998, for orchestrating synchronized bombings across 63 districts in 2005 targeting leftist activists and civilians. Reports also detailed Islamist penetration in the , where madrassa graduates rose from 5 percent of recruits in 2001 to nearly 35 percent by 2006, fueled by Saudi-funded seminaries training youth for military exams amid poverty-driven recruitment. Choudhury critiques mainstream narratives that downplay these threats, attributing —often linked to party affiliations—to underreporting jihadist ties, such as BNP-Jamaat support for groups like Shahadat-e-Horuf-e-Bangla (SHB), formed in 2012, from which authorities seized 22 weapons and 4,475 ammunition rounds during 2015-2016 arrests of 34 members. He warns that without confronting clerical incitement to during Friday sermons and foreign influences like Pakistani ISI backing for HuJI and JMB, risks becoming a for regional , prioritizing empirical indicators of militancy over politically motivated minimization.

Pro-Israel Advocacy

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury has consistently advocated for diplomatic normalization between and , framing it as a pragmatic step to harness mutual benefits amid regional Islamist pressures. He argues that , with its rapidly growing economy—evidenced by GDP per capita surpassing India's and a seven-year rise in since 2000—could double foreign exchange earnings over 25 years through Israeli technological expertise in areas like , IT, and exports. On security grounds, Choudhury emphasizes Israel's knowledge as vital for to counter domestic Islamist threats, drawing from his own experiences with militant violence. Through his tabloid Weekly Blitz, launched in 2003 with a circulation of around 25,000, Choudhury has published content challenging entrenched anti- taboos in the Muslim world, including exposures of Islamic NGOs tied to and calls for positive coverage of as a partner against . A key flashpoint was his November 2003 attempt to attend a conference on the rise of Islamic militancy in , organized in part through his establishment of a local branch of the Israel-based International Forum for Literature and Culture of Peace, which aimed to promote interfaith bridges and dialogue on radicalism. Supporters, such as international advocates and U.S. congressional resolutions, praise Choudhury's position as a bold fostering economic uplift and security cooperation against shared extremist foes. Critics, primarily Islamist factions in , decry it as a treasonous betrayal of Muslim , accusing him of prioritizing foreign interests over national in a context of widespread antisemitic via media, mosques, and madrassas. Choudhury maintains that such normalization is inevitable and essential, urging to act before geopolitical shifts render it costlier.

2003 Arrest and Initial Charges

On November 29, 2003, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was detained by Bangladeshi security forces at Zia International Airport in as he attempted to board a flight to , with the intention of connecting to to attend a hosted by the Hebrew Writers Association. , which does not recognize and prohibits travel there, viewed the attempt as a violation of national policy, prompting immediate interrogation by intelligence agents who also searched his home and confiscated materials. Choudhury was initially charged under the Passport Act for attempting unauthorized travel to a non-recognized state, a relatively minor offense that carried potential fines or short-term detention but was escalated shortly thereafter. By January 24, 2004, authorities added charges of , , and , alleging his pro-Israel writings and advocacy threatened and religious harmony, though these stemmed directly from the airport incident and his journalistic output. The passport violation charges were dropped in February 2004 as the more severe accusations took precedence. In the initial phase of his detention at Central Jail, Choudhury was held in under harsh conditions, including reported physical such as electric shocks and beatings, denial of medical treatment for preexisting spinal issues, and demands to confess to espionage ties with , as documented by monitors and Choudhury's own accounts corroborated by advocacy groups. These early experiences lasted through his first 17 months of before a temporary release in April 2005, highlighting immediate punitive measures beyond standard procedures.

Sedition, Treason, and Blasphemy Trials

Following his initial in November 2003, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury faced formal charges of , , and on January 24, 2004, filed under sections of the penal code that carried potential penalties including or . The charge accused him of publishing articles that allegedly undermined state authority, while involved claims of aiding foreign entities through his advocacy for Bangladesh-Israel ties, and targeted writings purportedly insulting by promoting interfaith understanding and critiquing religious extremism. Choudhury endured without for approximately 17 months, from his until his conditional release in April 2005, despite repeated applications citing health issues including heart problems requiring . This prolonged incarceration occurred amid reports of and denial of medical care, with refusals justified by prosecutors on flight risk grounds linked to his planned travel to . The subsequent trial process exhibited empirical irregularities, including indefinite postponements and a March 2006 judicial directive to proceed on all three charges without witness testimony or full presentation, extending proceedings over years. By 2007, setbacks in the phase underscored lapses, as defense motions for dismissal were overruled amid accusations of fabricated tied to his Weekly Blitz publications. International scrutiny intensified, with the U.S. adopting H. Res. 64 in 2007, calling for to drop the charges due to their basis in protected speech and violations of fair trial standards under . Similar appeals from and parliamentary motions in the UK highlighted the blasphemy allegations as retaliatory against Choudhury's exposés on jihadist threats, which had provoked Islamist groups affiliated with ruling coalitions. These interventions emphasized causal connections between the charges and backlash from hardline factions, rather than substantive legal merits.

2014 Conviction and Appeals

On January 9, 2014, a court convicted Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury of harming Bangladesh's interests under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code, sentencing him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for publishing articles and carrying documents that were deemed to distort facts and provoke interreligious friction. The charges stemmed from writings in Weekly Blitz criticizing Islamist extremism and advocating , including materials related to his 2003 attempt to travel to , which Bangladeshi authorities viewed as damaging national harmony. Choudhury appealed the conviction, but the process yielded no reduction in sentence; he ultimately served the full seven-year term, with release occurring in July 2018 after completion of the imprisonment. No verifiable records indicate partial remissions or successful overturning during the appeals phase, though the case highlighted ongoing concerns about judicial delays and enforcement of speech-related laws in . Press freedom organizations, including the (CPJ) and (RSF), condemned the sentencing as retaliatory against independent journalism, urging authorities to release Choudhury and questioning the impartiality of the proceedings amid his prior international advocacy. These groups argued the conviction exemplified broader patterns of using penal code provisions to suppress dissent on religious and issues, with CPJ specifically decrying the punishment for "critical writing" as incompatible with free expression standards. In November 2012, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was arrested in on embezzlement charges filed by his business partner, Sajjad Hossain, stemming from alleged financial irregularities in their joint ventures related to media and publishing operations. The complaint accused Choudhury of misappropriating funds, though specific amounts or transaction details were not publicly detailed in court records accessible at the time. Choudhury was convicted of in February 2015 by a court, receiving a four-year prison sentence to be served concurrently with prior convictions for and related offenses. He remained imprisoned until July 2018, when the sentences concluded. Supporters, including international advocacy groups, argued the charges were fabricated by adversaries to discredit his pro-Israel and anti-extremist reporting, pointing to Bangladesh's judicial environment where political motivations often influence financial cases against outspoken figures. Conversely, the allegations highlighted documented disputes with business associates, including claims of swindling funds from investors and partners in media projects, raising questions about operational irregularities independent of ideological conflicts. The contributed to skepticism among some observers regarding Choudhury's financial transparency, potentially undermining trust in his advocacy despite his release and continued publishing activities. No appeals overturned the ruling, though concurrent ideological charges drew more international scrutiny.

Physical Assaults and Threats

2006 Mob Attack

On October 5, 2006, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was attacked by a mob of about 30 men at the Weekly Blitz newspaper office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The assailants, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Cultural Wing leader Helal Khan and activist Babul Ahmed, targeted Choudhury in apparent retaliation for his advocacy of interfaith dialogue and pro-Israel positions, which had provoked opposition from political and Islamist elements aligned with the ruling BNP. During the assault, Babul Ahmed shouted that Choudhury was an "agent of Jews" and called for his death, explicitly tying the violence to Choudhury's writings challenging anti-Israel sentiment in Bangladesh. Choudhury was badly beaten, suffering injuries to his body that necessitated medical treatment, while the newspaper's , M. A. Ahsan, sustained serious injuries that temporarily halted publication of the Weekly Blitz. The mob ransacked the office, seizing computers, printers, several mobile phones, and cash amounting to approximately 400,000 (equivalent to about $4,000 at the time). These actions demonstrated a coordinated effort to intimidate and disrupt Choudhury's journalistic operations. Following the attack, Choudhury attempted to file a police complaint, but authorities declined to register charges or pursue arrests against the identified perpetrators, including the BNP officials involved. This refusal indicated direct political protection for the attackers and underscored the incident as isolated retaliation by BNP-affiliated groups rather than part of a documented pattern of wider threats at that juncture. No immediate arrests or official investigations ensued, leaving Choudhury without recourse through state mechanisms.

Office Raids and Subsequent Incidents

On February 22, 2009, approximately 35 to 40 armed men affiliated with Bangladesh's ruling party stormed the offices of the Weekly Blitz in , ransacking the premises, looting cash and valuables estimated at several hundred thousand taka, and assaulting staff members including editor Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. The attackers reportedly identified themselves as supporters and issued threats against the publication's critical reporting on and extremism. This raid occurred shortly after the 's electoral victory in January 2009, which had raised expectations of reduced harassment for dissident journalists, yet marked an escalation in targeted intimidation against Choudhury's outlet. The incident highlighted involvement of state-aligned political actors in suppressing , contrasting with earlier attacks linked to Islamist militants. Choudhury filed a formal with authorities, but investigations yielded no arrests, underscoring patterns of for such assaults on press offices. Subsequent reports documented ongoing threats to the Blitz premises, including anonymous warnings and , which Choudhury attributed to coordinated efforts by political and extremist elements to silence his advocacy for and criticism of . These events contributed to a broader climate of insecurity for the Weekly Blitz, with monitors noting repeated and access restrictions that disrupted operations through at least 2010. Despite enhanced security measures implemented by the staff, the raids exemplified systemic intimidation tactics, including economic sabotage via looted assets, aimed at undermining the publication's viability without direct state prosecution.

Awards and Recognition

International Journalism Awards

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury was awarded the PEN USA Freedom to Write Award in 2005 for his journalistic advocacy of interfaith dialogue, criticism of Islamist extremism, and efforts to foster Bangladesh-Israel relations amid personal risks including arrest and physical threats. The award, presented by the American center of the international PEN organization, honors writers imprisoned or persecuted for exercising free expression, highlighting Choudhury's reporting in Weekly Blitz on topics suppressed under Bangladesh's sedition laws. This recognition, granted while Choudhury remained under legal pressure following his November 2003 arrest, amplified global scrutiny of press restrictions in and contributed to diplomatic interventions, such as U.S. congressional resolutions urging his release. The award's criteria emphasized empirical demonstrations of courage in publishing contrarian views on militancy, which Choudhury substantiated through consistent coverage of radical Islamist activities despite office raids and mob violence.

Advocacy Honors

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury received the Moral Courage Award from the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in 2006, presented in absentia while he was imprisoned in Bangladesh. The award recognized his commitment to interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Jews, his advocacy for Bangladesh to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, and his opposition to religious extremism despite facing sedition charges for these views. AJC, an organization promoting Jewish advocacy and intergroup relations, highlighted Choudhury's perseverance amid persecution as exemplifying moral courage. In August 2007, AJC hosted a luncheon in Choudhury's honor following his release from , during which he publicly declared himself a "Muslim Zionist," affirming support for Israel's existence and Jewish . This event underscored international recognition from pro-Israel groups for his efforts to counter anti-Israel sentiment prevalent in Muslim-majority countries through public advocacy for and rejection of jihadist ideologies. Choudhury's honors from such organizations reflect alignment with perspectives prioritizing empirical challenges to Islamist narratives over conforming to regional consensus, though they originate from bodies with specific ideological commitments rather than neutral academic or governmental institutions.

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of Fraud and Extortion

In 2012, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury faced formal charges in , alongside accusations from former international supporters of personal financial misconduct, including demands on donors. These claims centered on his solicitation of funds from Jewish individuals and organizations in the United States and , purportedly for legal defense, media operations, and pro-Israel advocacy efforts in . Specific allegations included extracting tens of thousands of dollars from "emotionally vulnerable single Jewish ladies" through promises of support that were not fulfilled, as well as issuing bad checks and pressuring foreign leaders for payments under threats of reputational harm. Critics, including former backer Aryeh Yosef Gallin, described Choudhury as an opportunist who exploited donor trust for personal gain, with funds raised for his Weekly Blitz newspaper allegedly diverted or mismanaged. Other reports highlighted patterns of repeated fundraising appeals that yielded minimal verifiable outcomes, leading some donors to sever ties and label the efforts as scams. Choudhury rejected these accusations as baseless and fabricated, asserting they stemmed from politically motivated by Bangladeshi authorities lacking evidence, with related trials repeatedly postponed due to insufficient proof. He maintained that his fundraising supported legitimate counter-jihadist journalism amid ongoing threats, though independent verification of fund usage remained limited, contributing to skepticism among initial supporters.

Accusations of Propaganda and Misinformation

have accused Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury of propagating misinformation and engaging in sensationalist journalism through his tabloid Weekly Blitz, particularly in pieces highlighting Islamist extremism and foreign influences as threats to national stability. For instance, on June 20, 2025, the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), a government news agency, labeled Choudhury a "controversial propagandist" for authoring what it described as a "baseless and inflammatory" article published on June 18, 2025, titled "Revenge of 1971: How is Weaponizing Political Chaos," which allegedly fabricated narratives of external interference to discredit domestic politics. Similar denunciations have appeared in local commentary, framing his reporting on jihadist networks within student movements and political upheavals as exaggerated fear-mongering designed to portray as a haven for radicals, thereby undermining its image of secular resilience. These accusations often target Choudhury's challenges to prevailing narratives that downplay Islamist infiltration in , such as his assertions of systematic efforts disguised as protests, which critics from government-aligned sources dismiss as fabricated to incite international alarm. In one case, his coverage of alleged Islamist orchestration behind anti-government demonstrations was branded as disinformation by outlets sympathetic to post-Hasina regimes, despite partial alignments with documented expansions of groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and influence. Such critiques, however, originate predominantly from institutions with histories of suppressing discourse, including prior administrations that prosecuted Choudhury for over similar exposés, suggesting a of labeling dissent as to preserve denialist framings of . While some international observers have echoed concerns about the tabloid's hyperbolic style—such as unsubstantiated claims linking global figures to conspiracies— these remain sporadic and lack empirical refutations, contrasting with Choudhury's empirically grounded warnings on jihadist footholds that prefigured events like the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack. Critics from left-leaning or secular-minimalist perspectives, though not prominently documented in major Western outlets, have indirectly dismissed his work as biased amplification of "Islamophobia" to favor pro-Israel or agendas, prioritizing narratives of Bangladesh's progressive over causal evidence of radical entrenchment. This tension underscores a broader : whether Choudhury's forthright critiques constitute strategic exposure of underreported threats or veer into unsubstantiated alarmism, with accusers' credibility compromised by their alignment with regimes historically tolerant of .

Recent Developments

Post-2024 Bangladesh Political Crisis

Following Sheikh Hasina's ouster on August 5, 2024, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury described the preceding uprising as a "jihadist-engineered coup" involving an "evil nexus of Islamists and militants," rather than a spontaneous , pointing to coordinated disruptions like blackouts from July 18, 2024, and the involvement of groups such as Hefazat-e-Islam. In a July 10, 2025, interview, Choudhury warned that was "being turned into ," alleging a systematic empowerment of jihadists under the interim government of , including the reframing of Islamist violence as legitimate "pressure group" activity and a surge in radical militancy that threatened secular governance and regional security, particularly for . Choudhury accused the Yunus regime of enabling extremists by suppressing reports on jihadist atrocities, such as attacks on minorities, and aligning with caliphate-seeking entities involved in the 2024 , including claims that Yunus expressed public solidarity with madrasa-based radicals. Amid these criticisms, Choudhury faced threats, including state media labeling him a "propagandist" for alleged misinformation on June 20, 2025, yet he persisted in operations through op-eds and social media, documenting empirical indicators like rising Hindu persecutions and ISIS exploitation of the power vacuum post-2024.

Ongoing Counterterrorism Commentary

In 2025, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury warned of Bangladesh's trajectory toward "Afghanistan-ization," describing systematic efforts by Islamist groups to impose theocratic control akin to governance, including suppression of secular elements and expansion of jihadist influence. This analysis, articulated in a July 10 interview, emphasized causal links between unchecked radical networks and , drawing parallels to empirical patterns of militancy escalation observed in post-2021. Choudhury's commentary highlighted specific indicators, such as the empowerment of groups like , which he argued facilitate transnational jihadist operations threatening regional stability. Choudhury has sustained these critiques through writings in specialized outlets, including The Geopolitics and Organiser, where he dissects jihadist recruitment, funding flows, and ideological propagation as core drivers of persistent threats, often citing data on militant safe havens and cross-border linkages. His assessments prioritize verifiable patterns of over narrative-driven interpretations, such as the role of in amplifying antisemitic and anti-Western doctrines by groups like ISIS affiliates. On platforms like X, Choudhury disseminates anti-jihad positions, posting regularly on topics including exposed jihadist recruiters and U.S. responses to Bangladeshi networks, amassing followers despite backlash from Islamist entities. These efforts promote empirically grounded opposition to militancy, framing as a causal rooted in doctrinal rather than socioeconomic excuses. His ongoing analyses have resonated in right-leaning international discourse, influencing discussions on policy by aligning with outlets skeptical of multilateral equivocation on radical , and prompting references in reports on media assaults amid rising extremism. This positioning underscores a realist of institutional biases that downplay jihadist agency, advocating instead for unyielding exposure of threats to foster proactive defenses.

References

  1. https://cpj.org/2014/01/bangladeshi-editor-jailed-for-seven-years-for-crit/
  2. https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-unfathomable-life-of-salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury/
  3. https://www.southasiamonitor.org/spotlight/violence-against-hindus-bangladesh-burying-its-founding-ideals-secularism-and-pluralism
  4. https://rsf.org/en/journalist-gets-seven-year-jail-sentence-decade-old-articles
  5. https://www.cetri.be/_Salah-Uddin-Shoaib-Choudhury_?lang=en
  6. https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-resolution/64/text
  7. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/salah-choudhury-6098.php
  8. https://thesilentmajoritynomore.com/2011/03/24/breaking-disturbing-news-about-self-styled-muslim-zionist-shoaib-choudhury/
  9. https://www.askbd.org/ask/rights-religious-minorities/
  10. https://www.modernghana.com/news/333788/case-of-shoaib-choudhury-and-some-confusion.html
  11. https://lists-archive.sarai.net/reader-list/2009-October/022927.html
  12. https://www.thedailystar.net/forum/2012/December/media.htm
  13. https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/92387/Ahmed_uwm_0263M_12763.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  14. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26572579
  15. https://weeklyblitz.net/about-us/
  16. https://cpj.org/2006/07/bangladesh-office-of-controversial-magazine-weekly/
  17. https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/rsf/2004/en/46943
  18. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/14/opinion/the-risks-of-journalism-in-bangladesh.html
  19. https://muckrack.com/media-outlet/weeklyblitz
  20. https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/cpj/2006/en/56390
  21. https://www.newageislam.com/the-war-islam/salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury/tablighi-jamaat-world-jihadism-tablighi-jamaat-claims-their-ideology-practices-strict-accordance-with-quran-sunnah/d/119205
  22. https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=451182&GUID=03C5A239-66E1-4689-91C1-FF788F12F904&Search=&Options=
  23. https://jewishmag.com/108mag/choudhury/choudhury.htm
  24. https://www.jpost.com/international/reporter-faces-death-for-pro-israel-view
  25. https://forward.com/news/11564/ajc-honors-muslim-zionist-00443/
  26. https://jinsa.org/archive_post/growing-islamist-extremism-in-moderate-non-arab-countries-must-be-confronted-bangladeshi-activist-urges/
  27. https://isgap.org/media/2009/10/hate-speech-and-political-islam/
  28. https://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury/should-bangladesh-become-another-jihadist-launch-pad/d/117155
  29. https://weeklyblitz.net/2025/06/18/to-take-revenge-of-the-humiliating-defeat-of-1971-pakistan-army-advances-plot-of-recapturing-bangladesh-and-turn-bengalis-into-islamabads-eternal-slaves/
  30. http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/07/islamist-infiltration-in-bangladesh.html
  31. https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-692397
  32. https://cpj.org/2003/12/journalist-detained/
  33. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bangladesh-editor-gets-7-years-for-attempted-israel-trip/
  34. https://cpj.org/2004/11/cpj-condemns-journalists-ongoing-detention/
  35. https://www.jpost.com/international/pro-israeli-editor-beaten-in-bangladesh
  36. https://www.meforum.org/middle-east-quarterly/salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury-dissident
  37. https://www.jta.org/2006/12/19/politics/bangladeshi-suffers-for-israel-tie
  38. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120656808100266605
  39. https://hrvoices.org/victim-voices/bangladesh-slipping-toward-islamic-extremism-muslim-zionist-says/
  40. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116044907356287767
  41. https://www.cpj.org/2004/11/cpj-condemns-journalists-ongoing-detention/
  42. https://literaryreview.co.uk/salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury
  43. https://persecution.org/2007/03/03/persecuted-journalist-faces-set-back-in-sedition-trial/
  44. https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/31758/human-rights-in-bangladesh
  45. https://cpj.org/data/people/salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury/
  46. https://x.com/salah_shoaib/status/1830662735220342857?lang=en
  47. https://www.newsghana.com.gh/who-is-this-salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury/
  48. https://cpj.org/2022/03/bangladeshi-journalist-salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury-faces-digital-security-act-proceedings/
  49. https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5_4b7702e0-0b67-4131-9c03-f6ce1de243c7
  50. https://www.timesofisrael.com/bangladeshi-pro-israel-journalist-pushes-on-amid-charges-of-fraud/
  51. https://baltimorepostexaminer.com/bangladeshi-crusader-friend-of-israel-or-con-man/2012/06/11
  52. https://ifex.org/controversial-journalist-attacked-in-office-raid/
  53. https://www.progressiveisrael.org/journalist-faces-death-for-seeking-peace/
  54. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/independent-bangladeshi-j_b_457476
  55. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bangladeshi-journalist-ch_b_170652
  56. https://www.modernghana.com/news/254931/armed-robbers-inside-residence-of-weekly-blitz-editor-bangl.html
  57. https://www.modernghana.com/news/254728/bangladesh-a-nation-in-terror.html
  58. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-110hres64ih/pdf/BILLS-110hres64ih.pdf
  59. https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2014/01/09/ajc-denounces-sentence-given-interreligious-dialogue-advocate/
  60. https://www.jta.org/archive/a-bangladeshi-journalist-arrested-for-advocating-ties-with
  61. https://www.jta.org/2007/08/10/ny/in-the-presence-of-a-real-hero
  62. https://jweekly.com/2012/06/15/muslim-pro-israel-journalist-faces-fraud-charges/
  63. https://www.bssnews.net/fact-check/284356
  64. https://www.facebook.com/cagobpresswingfacts/posts/controversial-propagandist-salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury-in-a-june-9-eurasian-tim/122154113594594588/
  65. https://x.com/Starboy2079/status/1826692967475638503
  66. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/bangladesh-fights-back-islamist-mayhem/
  67. https://organiser.org/2025/06/30/300131/world/asia/bangladesh-from-democracy-to-theocracy-how-isis-exploited-2024-regime-change/
  68. https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/bangladesh-being-turned-into-afghanistan-says-bangladeshi-journalist-salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury-glbg-2753879-2025-07-10
  69. https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/bangladesh-being-turned-into-afghanistan-says-bangladeshi-journalist-salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury/ar-AA1IlkLJ
  70. https://www.opindia.com/2025/02/muhammad-yunus-un-report-atrocities-committed-by-jihadist-groups-in-bangladesh/
  71. https://www.indiancentury.in/2025/07/07/bangladeshs-descent-toward-a-caliphate-the-alarming-role-of-muhammad-yunus/
  72. https://hindupost.in/world/bangladesh/muhammad-yunus-and-the-making-of-a-caliphate-bangladesh-on-the-brink-of-islamist-tyranny/
  73. https://www.bssnews.net/news/284356
  74. https://organiser.org/2025/07/10/301666/bharat/bangladesh-hindu-atrocities-world-watching-in-silence/
  75. https://organiser.org/2025/07/19/303600/world/islamists-advancing-blueprint-of-turning-bangladesh-into-a-hindu-free-country/
  76. https://twitter.com/salah_shoaib/status/1966254217959714956
  77. https://thegeopolitics.com/author/salahuddinshoaibchoudhury/
  78. https://organiser.org/author/salah-uddin-shoaib-choudhury/
  79. https://organiser.org/2022/04/15/76581/world/islamic-state-calls-for-social-media-warfare/
  80. https://x.com/salah_shoaib
  81. https://x.com/salah_shoaib/status/1950246672824717534
  82. https://www.icpsnet.org/comments/The-Implications-of-Assault-on-Media-in-Bangladesh
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.