Project Korikath/statements/July 30, 2024

July 30, 2024

Project Korikath is deeply disturbed and outraged by the arbitrary arrest of our volunteer photographer, Mahmudur Rahman Chowdhury, also known as Nayeem Ibn Matiur, while he was covering the ongoing protest at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh. As a volunteer Wikimedia photographer, he is devoted to collecting images and videos and publish them for Wikipedia and its sister projects under an open license for humanity to access the truth free of cost. This blatant attack on open knowledge and its activists is an unacceptable infringement of Article 39(2)(b) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, which guarantees freedom of the press.

Mahmudur Rahman Chowdhury is one of the senior members of Project Korikath and was serving as a judge for the Bangladesh round of the international photographic contest, "Wiki Loves Earth 2024" before his arbitrary arrest.

We, the members of Project Korikath from more than 10 countries, demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mahmudur Rahman Chowdhury. He hasn't violated any law, and there isn't any evidence against him. His photography equipment and personal belongings have been seized illegally. No open knowledge activist should be subjected to such repressive measures.

We urge the public, our fellow Wikimedia organizations, and other open knowledge movement organizations to stand in solidarity with us and condemn this attack on open knowledge.

Let knowledge be free.