Accompanied by her lawyer, Taslima Nasrin appeared in Dhaka High Court dressed in a sari and headscarf. She was freed on $125 bail on a charge of violating a 19th-century law against offending religious sensibilities.
Fundamentalists were enraged when an Indian newspaper quoted Ms. Nasrin, a 32-year-old physician, as saying she wanted the Koran, the Islamic holy book, "thoroughly revised" to protect women's rights.
She has said she was misquoted, but would like to see changes in Islamic laws to protect women's rights.
Fundamentalists put a $5,000 bounty on her head, and authorities followed up by issuing a warrant for her arrest.
But her appearance Wednesday, caught opponents off-guard. No protests occurred outside the court.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.