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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Free Speech Crisis and Bangladeshi Bloggers

Yesterday, masked men armed with machetes hacked a blogger to death in Sylhet. Three secular or atheist bloggers have been murdered recently in Bangladesh — a majority Muslim country. It sounds like it's far away, but the incidents are being seen as part of a worldwide pattern of attacks on free speech.

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By Warren Olney • May 13, 2015 • 11m Listen

Yesterday, masked men armed with machetes hacked a blogger to death in Sylhet. Three secular or atheist bloggers have been murdered recently in Bangladesh — a majority Muslim country. It sounds like it's far away, but the incidents are being seen as part of a worldwide pattern of attacks on free speech.

We hear more from Madeline Earp, a researcher at Freedom House, which focuses on journalism and online activism in Asia, and from George Packer, a staff writer for the New Yorker. His article, "Mute Button: The Free Speech Crisis," appeared last month.

Photo: Anonymous Account

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

  • KCRW placeholder

    Madeline Earp

    Freedom House

  • KCRW placeholder

    George Packer

    staff writer at The Atlantic

    NewsNationalPolitics
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