DHAKA: An international press freedom body on Wednesday called for the immediate release of a Bangladesh cartoonist detained for allegedly blasphemopus cartoon.

Reporters Without Borders appealed to the military-backed government to release Arifur Rahman, who was detained on Tuesday following the publication of his cartoon in a satirical weekly magazine. “The government should not yield to pressure from extremist leaders who are trying to politicise the case. Rahman should not be made a scapegoat. He must be freed.” Around 3,000 people from Muslim groups protested in central Dhaka on Wednesday against Rahman’s work. Street demonstrations have been illegal here since a state of emergency was imposed in January.

The government earlier seized all copies of the magazine, which is published by the mass-circulated Bengali daily Prothom Alo.—AFP