Bangladesh teacher arrested over banned book
Organizers try to protect Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, far left, as he is attacked by Muslim protesters, unseen during her book release in Hyderabad, India on Thursday, Aug 9, 2007. Nasrin escaped unhurt as the organizers pushed back nearly 100 protesters, led by three lawmakers. In the melee, one of the protesters slapped her and told her to go back to her country, according to eyewitnesses. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A)
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Police have arrested the head teacher at a college in southern Bangladesh after a book considered blasphemous by some Muslims was found in the school's library, an official said Wednesday.
Police officer Abdul Malek said S.M. Yunus Ali was arrested for possessing the novel "Lajja," or "Shame," written by exiled writer Taslima Nasrin.
Malek said Ali, head teacher at the K.C. Technical and Business Management College, could face up to three years in jail if he is found guilty of authorizing the book's inclusion in the library.
The Prothom Alo newspaper said Wednesday that Ali denied having the book and said he was the victim of a conspiracy.
Police corruption and misuse of police investigations by politicians are widespread in Bangladesh.
The novel was banned a year after its publication in 1993 and Nasrin was forced to flee Bangladesh to escape death threats from radical Muslims who considered it blasphemous for advocating secularism. She has been living in India and Europe since then.
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