A Bangladesh court granted <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-fifa-official-arrested-for-defaming-pm-sheikh-hasina-204158">FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron bail </a>on Tuesday, her lawyer said, days after she was arrested on suspicion of defamation after saying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was neglecting football in the cricket-mad country.

"The court granted her bail until April 2 ... basically on medical ground as she is receiving cancer treatment," her lawyer, Liakat Hossain, told Reuters on Tuesday. Kiron will be released from prison when the prison authority receives the bail order.

Hasina's administration has recently been accused of cracking down on free speech and adopting an increasingly authoritarian style. The government, which won a third straight term in December, denies freedom of speech is under attack in the country of 165 million people.

Abul Hasan Chowdhury Prince, who filed the case against Mahfuza, said her comments against Hasina were derogatory.

If found guilty, Mahfuza could face up to two years in prison. Her arrest triggered criticisms from rights groups including Amnesty International.

"Championing football is not a crime. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron was merely exercising her right to freedom of expression by stating that the Prime Minister favoured cricket over football," said Saad Hammadi, South Asia Campaigner at Amnesty International.

"If the implications of a defamation case were not so serious, it would be laughable. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron must be released immediately and unconditionally."

A Bangladesh court granted FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron bail on Tuesday, her lawyer said, days after she was arrested on suspicion of defamation after saying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was neglecting football in the cricket-mad country.

A Bangladesh court granted FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron bail on Tuesday, her lawyer said, days after she was arrested on suspicion of defamation after saying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was neglecting football in the cricket-mad country. "The court granted her bail until April 2 ... basically on medical ground as she is receiving cancer treatment," her lawyer, Liakat Hossain, told Reuters on Tuesday. Kiron will be released from prison when the prison authority receives the bail order. Hasina's administration has recently been accused of cracking down on free speech and adopting an increasingly authoritarian style. The government, which won a third straight term in December, denies freedom of speech is under attack in the country of 165 million people. Abul Hasan Chowdhury Prince, who filed the case against Mahfuza, said her comments against Hasina were derogatory. If found guilty, Mahfuza could face up to two years in prison. Her arrest triggered criticisms from rights groups including Amnesty International. "Championing football is not a crime. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron was merely exercising her right to freedom of expression by stating that the Prime Minister favoured cricket over football," said Saad Hammadi, South Asia Campaigner at Amnesty International. "If the implications of a defamation case were not so serious, it would be laughable. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron must be released immediately and unconditionally."

Football: Bangladesh FIFA official held in defamation case gets bail

A lawyer for FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron is set to file a petition in a Bangladesh court on Tuesday seeking bail for the official who has been arrested in a defamation case following her criticism of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Mahfuza courted trouble after her remarks in a news conference last month in which she said Hasina was neglecting football in the cricket-obsessed country.

A sport organiser filed a defamation case against the 52-year-old who was arrested on Saturday.

"Hopefully, we'll file a bail petition tomorrow," her lawyer, Liakat Hossain, told Reuters on Monday.

The lawyer said Mahfuza was denied bail on Saturday but she was an "established woman" who represented the country abroad should be granted bail.

"We will file a bail petition again."

Hasina's administration has recently been accused of cracking down on free speech and adopting an increasingly authoritarian style.

The government of Hasina, who won a third straight term in a Dec. 30 election marred by violence and allegations of widespread rigging, denies freedom of speech is under attack in the country of 165 million people.

Abul Hasan Chowdhury Prince, who filed the case against Mahfuza, said her comments against Hasina were derogatory.

"I lodged the case as she made derogatory remarks against our sports-loving prime minister," he told Reuters.

A lawyer for FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron is set to file a petition in a Bangladesh court on Tuesday seeking bail for the official who has been arrested in a defamation case following her criticism of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

A lawyer for FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron is set to file a petition in a Bangladesh court on Tuesday seeking bail for the official who has been arrested in a defamation case following her criticism of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mahfuza courted trouble after her remarks in a news conference last month in which she said Hasina was neglecting football in the cricket-obsessed country. A sport organiser filed a defamation case against the 52-year-old who was arrested on Saturday. "Hopefully, we'll file a bail petition tomorrow," her lawyer, Liakat Hossain, told Reuters on Monday. The lawyer said Mahfuza was denied bail on Saturday but she was an "established woman" who represented the country abroad should be granted bail. "We will file a bail petition again." Hasina's administration has recently been accused of cracking down on free speech and adopting an increasingly authoritarian style. The government of Hasina, who won a third straight term in a Dec. 30 election marred by violence and allegations of widespread rigging, denies freedom of speech is under attack in the country of 165 million people. Abul Hasan Chowdhury Prince, who filed the case against Mahfuza, said her comments against Hasina were derogatory. "I lodged the case as she made derogatory remarks against our sports-loving prime minister," he told Reuters.

Bangladesh FIFA official arrested for 'defaming' PM Sheikh Hasina

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Football: Bangladesh FIFA official held in defamation case gets bail

Bangladesh FIFA official arrested for 'defaming' PM Sheikh Hasina