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Human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has voiced concern regarding the formal charges filed against journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Haque Babu in connection with the 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown, specifically concerning crimes against humanity.

In a statement released Saturday, ASK highlighted the importance of uncovering the truth about the deaths and human rights violations that occurred during the Shapla Chattar incident and holding those responsible accountable. Simultaneously, the organization stressed the necessity of ensuring justice, freedom of expression, and the right to independent journalism throughout the legal process.

ASK emphasized that the roles and liabilities of individuals accused of serious crimes must be determined based on concrete evidence. The group stated that the publication of news or editorial decisions related to an incident should be carefully considered to distinguish them from criminal involvement. "Performing professional journalistic duties and participating in or assisting in a crime are not the same thing," ASK asserted, urging that these issues be treated separately.

The rights organization called on the relevant authorities to guarantee that the ongoing judicial proceedings against Rupa and Babu are conducted transparently, impartially, and fairly. They also urged protection for the journalists' legal rights and their right to justice. Earlier, Amnesty International, ARTICLE 19, CIVICUS, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Human Rights Watch (HRW) jointly appealed to the Bangladesh government to drop the ICT investigation and refrain from pursuing crimes against humanity charges against the detained journalists for their reporting.

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Performing professional journalistic duties and participating in or assisting in a crime are not the same thing.