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Published : 11 Oct 2025, 07:41 PM
Photographer Shahidul Alam has said he suffered mainly psychological abuse after Israeli forces detained a vessel from the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla and took him into custody.
On Saturday, Alam, the managing director of Drik, who was aboard a vessel called Conshans in the flotilla, described a pattern of intimidation during his detention after Israeli forces seized the flotilla on Wednesday.
He said he and other detainees were subjected to “many forms of mistreatment”, but that psychological torment was most acute.
“The principal one was psychological torture; although we did not receive severe physical blows,” he told a press conference at DrikPath Bhobon after returning to Dhaka via Turkey in the morning.
Shahidul said Israeli soldiers would enter the cells at night with machine-guns, creating panic.
“They made loud noises, ordered us to stand up, shouted or gave other orders and tried to create terror. They even threatened to shoot one of our co passengers, accusing him of being a Hamas supporter,” he said.
Describing the moment of disembarkation, Shahidul said detainees were led ashore with their hands tied behind their backs and forced to sit bent over for nearly two hours.
“It was very painful for me. The worst moment was when they took my passport and threw it on the ground. That was a grave insult to me,” he said.
Speaking about his motivation, Shahidul said the July Uprising had given him the courage to plan the trip to Gaza.
“At that time, we took to the streets, we protested. We were able to remove such a despot. Something similar must be done internationally,” he said.
Asked about next steps, he said activists were forming an international network.
“Because global leaders will not act, we activists have prepared for how we can fight. We have drafted a blueprint and, before returning, we decided that we will go again and a thousand ships will go,” he said.
