DHAKA, Bangladesh — A 55-year-old Christian preacher was beaten by a group of men linked to the Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami after he told them he is a follower of Jesus Christ, the persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported.
Arif Salam, a bicycle mechanic, husband, and father who openly shares the gospel in predominantly Muslim Bangladesh, was confronted at his home on the afternoon of June 5 by a group of men who demanded to know why he did not perform Namaz, the daily Islamic ritual prayers. When Salam calmly explained his Christian faith, the men immediately assaulted him. He is now tending to wounds across his body, including his head, while his family works through trauma, anxiety, and fear.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide learned of the attack and partnered with a local pastor and volunteers to provide urgent medical care and support for Salam’s family. The organization said it has communicated with the local police administration to ensure a proper investigation and is now engaged in legal counsel on the family’s behalf.
The assault fits a pattern of escalating attacks against Christians since Bangladesh’s political landscape shifted. The center-right, capitalist Bangladesh Nationalist Party rose to power in February as the first elected government since the nation overthrew Sheikh Hasina’s administration in 2024. The BNP is the primary political opponent of Jamaat-e-Islami, the radical Islamist party to which the men behind Salam’s attack belong. Despite that opposition, Jamaat and several other Islamist political groups are rising in influence across the country.
International Christian Concern documented additional incidents: a Christian youth skill-development program in southwestern Bangladesh was forced to shut down under pressure from a local Islamic political group; in the north, a woman running a women’s discipleship class faces backlash from Islamic leaders; and Islamic extremists severely beat a pastor for his proclamation of the gospel. Though the BNP has claimed to attempt to provide stability for minority religions, its efforts have proven unsuccessful against Islamist political groups like Jamaat.
Bangladesh ranks as the 33rd most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, according to persecution monitoring data. The case carries direct implications for Western governments that provide development aid to Dhaka and have pressed successive Bangladeshi administrations on religious-freedom protections for minorities.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s legal engagement on behalf of Salam’s family is ongoing, with the local police investigation expected to determine whether formal charges will be brought against the attackers.