International conference on blasphemy allegations in Bangladesh concluded
An international conference examining blasphemy allegations, mob violence and the protection of religious minorities in Bangladesh concluded on 24 January 2026 in The Hague, Netherlands. The event, organised by Global Human Rights Defence at Het Nutshuis, was titled Blasphemy Allegations, Mob Violence and the Protection of Religious Minorities in Bangladesh. It brought together academics, politicians and human rights advocates to discuss patterns of violence, legal frameworks and international responsibilities. The conference was opened by Harry van Bommel, who outlined its objectives and structure.
Global Human Rights Defence, a Hague-based organisation accredited by the UN ECOSOC, convened the conference following a series of violent incidents in Bangladesh linked to allegations of blasphemy. Although Bangladesh has no specific blasphemy law, strict provisions under sections 295 to 298 of the 1860 penal code and the 2018 Digital Security Act criminalise actions deemed to hurt religious sentiments. Speakers argued that these laws are often used disproportionately against non-Muslim minorities, particularly Hindus.
Data presented at the conference indicated a significant disparity in violence. In 2025, Hindus, who make up about eight per cent of the population, were victims of 42 lynchings, equating to around 5.25 cases per hundred people. Muslims, comprising 92 per cent of the population, experienced 150 lynchings, or about 1.27 per hundred, bringing the total to 192 cases. Between August 2024 and December 2025, Bangladesh recorded 2,829 incidents of violence against Hindus, including 70 deaths, attacks on 386 families and damage to 1,766 temples.
Specific cases cited included Dipu Chandra Das, who was lynched and burned in Mymensingh on 18 December 2025; Bablu Dutta, whose throat was slit in Khulna in June 2025; Anita Karmakar, found dead in the Shitalakshya River in Gazipur; and Subrata Chandra Das, killed in Noakhali in October 2025. Attacks in Khagrachari-Guimara in September 2025 reportedly left five indigenous Hindus dead and led to arson and displacement.
The keynote session was delivered by Dr Anthonie Holslag, a Dutch scholar and novelist specialising in anthropology and genocide studies. Holslag, who has advised the European Parliament and conducted field research in Bangladesh, warned of patterns of state extremism and cultural destruction that could lead to mass atrocities.
The first panel focused on legal and human rights frameworks and featured Paulo Casaca, founder of the South Asia Democratic Forum and former MEP; Dr Habibe Millat, former Bangladeshi MP; and Priyajit Debsarkar, a London-based author and geopolitical analyst. The second panel examined the role of media and social consequences of violence. Andy Vermaut highlighted what he described as a long history of silence surrounding persecution, while Nawin Ramcharan spoke on security, migration and democratic resilience. The third panel addressed international responses and policy options, with contributions from Rahman Khalilur Mamun, Prof Chandan Sarkar and Fareed Ahmad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK. Dr Holslag closed the session with remarks on the potential roles of the United Nations and the European Union.
Participants criticised what they described as limited international engagement. The conference noted the absence of major statements from UN leadership and argued that international media coverage had been minimal. Speakers pointed to what they called double standards in global responses to religious persecution, citing rapid reactions to incidents affecting Muslim communities compared with silence over violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
The conference concluded with a report by Wiktoria Halina Walczyk and closing remarks by Harry van Bommel. Global Human Rights Defence reaffirmed its commitment to advocacy on minority rights, with participants calling for stronger international action to address religious violence in Bangladesh
