On Sept. 18th, in 1998, Bangladeshi Muslims called for the death of author Taslima Nasrin for blasphemy and apostasy.

Taslima Nasrin was born into a Muslim family in Bangladesh.  She began writing poetry at 15;  she graduated from medical school in 1984 and began a career as a gynecologist, and started writing newspaper columns in 1986.  In her writings, she criticised the oppression of women in Islamic society.  She suggested that sharia be modified to give women more rights.  In 1990 enraged crowds of Muslims rioted over her writings, broke into the offices of the newspapers that published her writings, and announced a fatwa that placed a $5000 reward for her murder.

In 1993, she wrote "Shame", the fictionalized account, based on her own experience of sexual abuse as an adolescent and the rape victims she treated as a doctor, of a Hindu woman who was raped by a Muslim man.  The nominally secular but majority Muslim Bangladeshi government banned the book, confiscated her passport, forced her to quit her job as a doctor, and arrested her on charges of blasphemy.  Another fatwa was announced calling for her murder.  Taslima fled Bangladesh, moving in exile between France, Sweden, and India.

In 1998 she returned to Bangladesh to visit her dying mother.  The Bangladeshi government renewed the calls for her arrest and confiscated her property.  Again, enraged crowds of Muslims protested and rioted, and more fatwas calling for her death were announced.  Again, she was forced to flee Bangladesh.

She continues to write novels, poetry, and essays critical of Islam while living in exile.  Muslims accuse her of insulting Mohammad, and of being an apostate, which carries a death sentence under sharia.  She has spent much time living in India, which although majority Hindu, has one of the largest Muslim populations in the world.  Imams in India have called for her murder, and several fatwas offering money for her death have been offered.  She has been physically attacked, including by members of the Indian Legislative Assembly.  After one of those attacks in 2007, one of the lawmakers, Akbaruddin Owaisi, made his priorities and loyalties clear:

"We are not bothered about our MLA [Member of Legislative Assembly] status. We are Muslims first. And it's our responsibility to test those who have said anything against Islam in whichever way possible."

Currently living in India, Taslima is moved by the government from one "undisclosed location" to another, under virtual house arrest, and in enforced seclusion.  She is transported in vehicles with blacked-out windows in order to prevent her from discovering where she is being held.

Previous Days in the "Religion of Peace™":

Sept 17: Destruction of Library of Alexandria
Sept 16: Black September
Sept 15: Ottomans conquer Persia
Sept 14: Assassination of Gemayel
Sept 13: Confiscation of Armenian property