If you are reading this, it is probably because you care about the work, life, and safety of 83-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and his colleagues in Bangladesh. If so, those of us involved in helping keep him safe welcome you into the “Protect Yunus” campaign. Our collective work in solidarity with Professor Yunus is more important than ever, because ever since his January 1, 2024 conviction on meritless charges, the government has had the right, at any time, to imprison him for a few months or even for years.
Many people have asked how they can help confront this injustice. We have identified several action steps that any citizen can take to help our cause. They are:
- Record a short video of 30 seconds to 3 minutes in length where you comment on the work and life of Professor Yunus and why he should be free from persecution and harassment. Then post it on one or more social media channels and tag the Protect Yunus Campaign. Use the hashtag #IStandWithYunus. Recently, NASA astronaut Ron Garan, the legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, and iconic business leader Richard Branson posted model support videos.
- Take a photo of yourself with a sign or piece of paper that has the words #IStandWithYunus and post it on social media. Think creatively about where you could take it. For example, in front of a Bangladesh embassy or consulate, if one is near you. Or simply in your home or neighborhood. Here is an example on Twitter of what you can do.
- Write a letter to the Ambassador of Bangladesh to your country detailing why you believe the persecution of Professor Yunus must stop so he can continue his good work on ending poverty, unemployment, wealth concentration, and carbon emissions. (In some countries Bangladesh is represented by a High Commissioner instead of an Ambassador, but their functions are the same.)
- Circulate the January 2024 open letter to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister by 243 Global Leaders including 125 Nobel laureates to your friends, colleagues, and associates, and urge others to take action in support of it by sharing this call to action as well.
- Join the Chilli Foundation’s efforts to help Professor Yunus by downloading its app, which will guide and support you in taking many actions in support of Professor Yunus.
- Add your name as a concerned citizen wishing to endorse and sign the August 2023 open letter by sending your name, country, and city to this email address: protectmdyunus@gmail.com. Unless you indicate otherwise in your message, we will add you to our mailing list so that you can receive future updates and calls to action.
- Write to your elected representatives at the federal level (such as your Congressperson and Senators if you live in the United States) and urge them to take action in support of Professor Yunus and human rights in Bangladesh. Send copies of those letters to us so we can track progress.
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the Bangladesh government’s treatment of Professor Yunus and the human rights situation there generally (you can read about the human rights issues in Bangladesh here). Send copies of any published letters to us so we can track progress.
- Follow the Protect Yunus Campaign on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to stay informed, and share our posts and content, and join our mailing list so we can keep in touch with you. (To sign up for the mailing list, click here.)
- Make a financial contribution to the Protect Yunus Campaign through our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, the Middle Project (now known as Freedom Rising), to help us sustain our efforts. Donations are tax-deductible, to the maximum extent allowable by law, for U.S. taxpayers.
We welcome your suggestions about how we can best work together to protect Professor Yunus. You can email us anytime at protectmdyunus@gmail.com.