On 12 June 2013, the pre-trial detention of human rights defender Mahmudur Rahman in Bangladesh was extended for three days by Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Harunur Rashid, who confirmed the charges of inciting violence. The human rights defender was arrested on 11 April 2013, and was subjected to severe torture whilst in custody. 
Mahmudur Rahman is an editor of the newspaper Daily Amardesh, which was closed and sealed by police without a court order on 11 April 2013. As an editor of the Daily Amardesh, Mahmudur Rahman published articles exposing corruption scandals involving high profile ruling party politicians including the Prime Minister and her family members. He also denounced the killing of 172 civilians by police during government clashes with the opposition last February. During the court hearing of 12 June 2013 the human rights defender was formally charged with inciting people to attack the Shahbagh Projomo Chottor protests. These protests demanded capital punishment for individuals who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. Mahmudur Rahman strongly denies that he ever incited people to attack the protesters. The alleged incitement occurred on 22 February 2013, when Mahmudur Rahman was in fact confined to his office at the Daily Amardesh as a result of being surrounded by police and intelligence officers.
Mahmudur Rahman has been in detention since 11 April 2013, with the first six days in police remand. It was during these six days that the human rights defender was reportedly tortured, including through the hammering of nails into his flesh and bones as well as electric shocks. On his appearance in court on 18 April 2013, eye witnesses said he had fresh wounds on his legs, blood on his clothes and that he found it difficult to sit down. He was briefly held in hospital before being returned to Kashimpur jail. For more information: http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/22442 and http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/22659.
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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