Badhon harassed in Venice, pro-Awami League accounts cheer online
(Editor’s note: Some offensive words used in this report have been kept unchanged to accurately reflect the nature of the online attack.)
Actress Azmeri Haque Badhon was harassed on Sept. 7 while attending the Venice Film Festival in Italy. After a video of the incident spread on Facebook, a faction was seen celebrating it and spreading malicious remarks.
In these posts, Badhon was called a “July militant,” “dollar addict” and “deep state agent,” alongside subjecting her to extreme misogynistic abuse and threats. This trend was observed among various “pro-Awami League” profiles and pages.
In this report, “pro-Awami League” refers to accounts whose names indicate an affiliation with the banned party’s ideology, whose profile pictures feature images or logos of prominent leaders of the party, or which regularly post in favor of the party.
What happened in Italy
According to a report by news outlet bdnews24, Badhon, who had traveled to Italy to attend the Venice International Film Festival, was attacked on the night of Sept. 7 in a park in the Mestre area of Venice while with her brother and his family.
Badhon alleged that several people threw drinks and eggs at her. She was physically assaulted, and an attempt was made to snatch her phone. The attackers, claiming to be “soldiers of Bangabandhu,” tried to force her to chant “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.”
Following the incident, Badhon said in a live video on her verified Facebook page that she was targeted because of her active involvement in the July uprising. However, she added that such attacks would not be able to silence her.
What does the circulated video show?
A video was circulated from a Facebook page named Telent Kanti Das (Telent Kanti Das) showing the onslought on Badhon. The post read, “In Italy, they’re turning Badhon’s a”ss red, cur”sing at her, this Sudanir jhi (Bangla slang), khankir jhi (Bangla slang), what kind of cur”se is this.”
The video shows several people surrounding Badhon at night in an open area beside a road. Badhon is wearing colorful printed clothing, glasses, and is holding a mobile phone in her hand.
In the video, a man in a blue T-shirt is seen holding a crying child. Several people are seen approaching Badhon, speaking agitatedly and lunging toward her. The mobile camera repeatedly shakes due to the pushing and jostling. Some of the attackers address her as a “July militant.” The video also shows various liquids being thrown at her and blows struck to her face.
Harasser celebrated as a ‘patriot’
Some posts have referred to the Italy-based expatriates involved in the harassment as patriots. For instance, the harassment video was shared from a profile named “Joynal Abedin”. The caption read, “The patriotic expatriate Bangalis staying in Venice, Italy, have untied the badhon [Badhon means bond/restraint] of Badhon, the July dollar addict, deep state agent, red Badr, July militant!”
As of the publication of this report, the post had received more than 5,900 reactions, over 700 comments and more than 350 shares.
Similarly, a page named “Dhanmondi-32” posted the harassment video of Badhon with the caption, “July militant Azmeri Haque Badhon has been given a proper lesson, Italy Chhatra League in Venice……….” An account named “Sarkar Milon” also posted similar abusive content targeting Badhon.
Celebrating while hurling abuse
Beyond political affiliation, Badhon was also abused because of her identity as a woman. An account named “Taragujaman Razib” shared the video with the caption, “Do whatever you want to do, you randi matari [whore/slut].” An account named Mehedi Hasan posted a photo of Badhon with the caption, “July khanki [whore] Badhon, catch this shali [sister-in-law, used derogatorily].”
Another account named “Zoynal Abedin Hazari” called Badhon “the militants’ beshsha [whore].” The caption read, “Expatriates in Italy nearly finished off Badhon, the militants’ beshsha (whore). Her condition is now such that it would be better for her to die than to live, but these people have no shame.”
‘Respect for women,’ but not for Badhon
Some posts spoke of respect for women while using specific words to portray Badhon as undeserving of that respect. An account named MD Monjurul Islam (MD Monjurul Islam) posted photos of several women with the caption, “This is the kind of respect we should have for women..! But not for prostitutes like Badhon…….”
Additionally, an account named “Chattogram Sandwip Bangabandhur Soinik (Translation: Chattogram Sandwip Bangabandhu’s soldier)” shared a Desh TV news report headlined, “Badhon Attacked by Chhatra League in Italy.” Sharing the report, the caption read, “These magi [whores] named July have destroyed a well-organized Bangladesh, these magi destroyed such a beautiful Bangladesh. Azmeri Haque Badhon attacked by the Chhatra League in Venice, Italy.”
Alongside abusive language, some posts also included direct death threats. A user named “Mizanur Rahaman” shared a Channel 24 news report that quoted Badhon saying she was “not easy to suppress.” Sharing it, Mizanur wrote in the caption, “You all will be hanged like dogs. Fallen khanki [whore].”
Cause is political, attack is misogynistic
A study in the journal Political Studies says that attacks aimed at suppressing political opponents can sometimes take on a gendered form. When sexual abuse or conventional gender stereotypes are used in an attack, it becomes gender-based violence.
A similar pattern can be observed in this case. On Facebook, she was first labeled a “July militant,” and then gender-based abuse targeting her identity as a woman followed.
Separately, a report titled “Creativity Wronged” analyzed more than 90 incidents of violations of women artists’ rights. It states that many women artists face such harassment and threats when they speak up for their rights, whether through their art or their social position.
There are precedents in different political contexts as well. A study in the journal Contemporary Politics found that in 2022, actress Nazanin Boniadi was labeled with sexually degrading terms by a state news agency for being active in support of Iran’s “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. This later spread to pro-government accounts as well. According to the researchers, the aim was to demean her and undermine her public standing.
In both cases, a tendency was observed in which, when attacking a woman who had taken a stand in a political or social movement, her womanhood and sexuality were used as tools of degradation alongside political criticism.
Violation of Meta’s policies
These kinds of posts and comments made on Facebook violate Meta’s specific community guidelines. According to Meta’s “Bullying and Harassment” policy, using demeaning terms related to sexual activity to degrade someone is prohibited. The gender-based abuse directed at Badhon directly matches the definition under this policy.
Additionally, under Meta’s “Violence and Incitement” policy, threats of violence are prohibited. Statements directed at Badhon such as “you will be hanged like dogs” fall under threats, which conflict with Meta’s policy.
