A powerful coalition of international intellectuals, writers, and activists has launched a urgent demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Bangladeshi photographer Shahidul Alam and dozens of other humanitarian volunteers detained by Israeli forces.
The call to action comes after the Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of ships, including the vessels “Conscience” and “Thousand Madleen,” which were attempting to break the 18-year-long blockade of Gaza. Alam, a globally recognized activist and artist, was aboard as the sole Bangladeshi national participating in the mission.
In a strongly-worded statement issued from Dhaka, the group condemned the seizure of the ships in international waters as an “illegal kidnapping” by what they described as an “apartheid state.” The statement further demanded accountability for the military action and an end to the “ongoing occupation and genocide in Palestine.”
The list of signatories includes a roster of prominent global figures, such as:
- Arundhati Roy, writer (New Delhi)
- Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, scholar (New York)
- Kanak Mani Dixit, journalist (Kathmandu)
- Mike van Graan, playwright (Cape Town)
They are joined by numerous Bangladeshi intellectuals and activists, including Rahnuma Ahmed, Khushi Kabir, and Saydia Gulrukh.
The statement specifically calls for the freedom of Alam and the 91 other media and medical professionals aboard the “Conscience,” alongside thousands of Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons. The “Freedom Flotilla Coalition,” which organized the voyage, aims to directly challenge the Israeli maritime blockade of Gaza.
Reports confirm that the Israeli defense forces intercepted the flotilla early Wednesday, detaining all individuals on board the nine vessels. Their current status and location remain a central point of concern for the global campaign demanding their release.