by Alfred De Tavares(March 24, Stockholm, Sri Lanka Guardian) Taslima Nasreen, the controversial writer from Bangladesh, is being cared for in a Swedish clinic since her highly hush-hush arrival in this country from India last Wednesday, and evidently plans to stay there for some time.
Ms Nasreen is being held virtually incommunicado by the Swedish authorities, under the care of the Swedish P.E.N. Club, which has been her protector ever since her troubles with the Islamic authorities in Bangladesh first drove her to Sweden in the early 1990s.
Maria Modig, vice-chairperson of the Svenska P.E.N. (Swedish Pen Club) and chairperson of their internationally powerful Fänsgslade Författeres Kommitté (imprisoned authors’ committee), breaking silence for the first time since Ms Nasreen’s arrival in Sweden, said: "Taslima Nasreen, considering all the dire circumstances she has been compelled to go through, is well and resting.
"Upon her arrival Taslima was taken to a clinic and she has been under expert medical care throughout. She will be thus attended to until she fully recovers her health. That is all she wishes for at the moment," said Ms Modig.
Cecilia Wikström, Member of Parliament (Riksdag) for the Swedish Folk Partiet (People’s Party) and vice-chairperson of the Swedish parliamentary committee for culture, who "has the official responsibility for Nasreen", also said in the same vein: "So far we have maintained that Taslima Nasreen is somewhere in Europe. However, I will now admit that she is, indeed, in Sweden, and has been for some days.
"She has been well attended to by medical experts and the care continues constantly until she completely recovers from her various ailments," said Ms Wikström, adding: "Although I cannot go into details of her health (condition), I can certainly say that Taslima (is) fine, relaxed and really trying to recover her health."
IANS spoke to an attendant looking after Taslima. When she (the attendant) asked the patient whether she wished to make any statement to the press, the intrepid writer replied quite audibly: "Just that I am fine ... I feel fine ... and I am really enjoying myself."
Besides the attendant’s mobile telephone number, no other information about the clinic was provided. However, IANS has learnt from reliable sources that it is a very renowned Swedish detoxification centre where top politicians and celebrities often go for treatment.
Ms Maria Modig said: "Ms Nasreen has no plans to meet the press or hold any public event, neither at present nor in (the) foreseeable future."
The Swedish media has not shown much interest in the case. Except for a brief notice carried by Dagens Nyheter (DN) on Thursday, the day after Ms Nasreen’s arrival here, there has virtually been total silence in the Swedish print and electronic media.
DN journalist Fredrik Söderling said: "I wonder what and who could have muzzled our entire press..."
About Taslima’s plans and official formalities, Ms Modig said: "What plans, what formalities? Taslima is a Swedish citizen, and has been so for more than a decade now. She is a Swede and has come home."
Alluding to her religious and political difficulties in Bangladesh and India, Ms Wikström said: "Taslima Nasreen may or may not have difficulties, and problems for her safety, in other countries that make it difficult for her to live there. But certainly not in Sweden.
"Here she will always have all the necessary protection she needs. Just like she has had before and just like others like her have always received and continue to do so," Ms Wikström added.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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