Bangladesh, Aug. 23 -- In an unprecedented escalation of Islamist persecution, Jamaat-e-Islami — the Bangladeshi arm of the Muslim Brotherhood — has begun imposing the medieval Jizya tax on Hindus and other religious minorities, openly declaring its intent to replace the countrys secular framework with Sharia law. Backed by Pakistans ISI and linked to global jihadist networks including Al Qaeda, Jamaats move comes just months after a coup that brought Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to power, triggering a rapid rise in radical Islamic influence. This development not only threatens Bangladeshs fragile democracy but poses a strategic security risk to South Asia and the wider free world.

From August 1, 2025, Jamaat-e-Islami, an id...