During the mid-2010s spate of attacks on and murders of secular bloggers in Bangladesh, blogger-activist-journalist Shammi Haque found her own life potentially in danger. Though her name initially did not appear on any hit list, unlike many of her fellow bloggers, she was closely associated with many of those who were targeted, including Ananya Azad and Niloy Neel, the latter of whom was murdered. 

Following Niloy’s death, Shammi, an outspoken atheist and feminist who wrote extensively in blogs and on Facebook, was forced into hiding out of fear for her life. When she emerged from that hiding, she was quickly forced back in: after an incident in which she narrowly got away from two suspicious men following her, she began receiving round-the-clock police protection.

“I cannot close my eyes without having sleeping pills. Even the noise of the window shutters scares me.” - Shammi Haque on her life in hiding

Though Shammi was torn between a desire to stay in Bangladesh, continuing to write, and the necessity of having her own physical safety and freedom guaranteed, the latter ultimately won out. She fled to Germany in October 2015. Only days after her arrival, she was listed on a hit list compiled by an extremist organization.

“I didn't think I would have to leave my home country because I love Bangladesh. I miss my country all the time. But I felt that if I stayed, I would be murdered.” - Shammi Haque

From Germany, Shammi continues to engage in writing and activism in support of secularism, feminism, and human rights.