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Choudbury battling charges of espionage, sedition, treason and blasphemy

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, a journalist, Muslim and staunch Zionist, on trial for his life, will speak at Rutgers University on Sunday, Nov. 1.

Choudhury, publisher of The Weekly Blitz Bangladeshi newspaper, will talk about his case at the Graduate Student Lounge of the College Avenue Student Center, 126 College Ave. New Brunswick. The free public talk begins at 7:30 p.m.

"When I heard about Choudhury's case, I thought it was important for people in New Jersey to know more about him," said Elias Ezra, publisher of The Jewish State newspaper. "That's why we are bringing him to Rutgers before his next court appearance."

For years, Choudhury has been urging his country to have stronger ties with Israel.

In 2003, as he was about to board a plane to Tel-Aviv, he was arrested and accused by Bangladeshi authorities of being a spy for Israel. Choudhury says he was tortured. He is now on trial for espionage, sedition, treason and blasphemy. The penalty for a conviction is death.

The campaign to get the government of Bangladesh to drop all charges against Choudhury is being led by Dr. Richard Benkin of Illinois, who got the U.S. Congress — led by Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) — involved in the case.

Choudhury has been allowed to visit the United States before his next court appearance.

Choudhury, who continues to be an advocate for Israel and for interfaith dialogue, has been harassed and beaten by Bangladeshi paramilitary forces.

Despite promises by the Bangladeshi government to drop the charges, his trial continues.

At Rutgers, he plans to talk about his ordeal, his staunch belief in both Zionism and Islam, and his tireless struggle for freedom in Bangladesh.

"As a newspaper, our job is to inform the public," Ezra said. "Bringing in a speaker such as Choudhury helps us further that mission."

— NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM CONTINUOUS NEWS DESK