Mukto-Mona facts for kids
Mukto-Mona (Bengali: মুক্তমনা) is a special kind of online blog. Its name means "free mind." This website supports the idea of free expression. It also shares ideas that question religious fundamentalism, especially in Islamic beliefs.
The Council for Secular Humanism once said that Mukto-Mona was the biggest and fastest-growing group of "freethinkers" in Bangladesh and South Asia. This group worked with international organizations like the Center for Inquiry and the International Humanist and Ethical Union.
How Mukto-Mona Started
In May 2001, a person named Avijit Roy began Mukto-Mona as a Yahoo group. The name meant "free mind." In 2002, Mukto-Mona became a blog, which is like an online journal.
Mukto-Mona was the first Bengali group to celebrate special days online. They celebrated Darwin Day, which honors scientist Charles Darwin. They also celebrated International Women's Day, which supports women's rights.
The group worked to protect the freedom of religious minorities. They also supported writers who shared different ideas. They teamed up with international groups to speak out for safety and freedom for these writers. In 2005, the website was blocked in the United Arab Emirates.
Awards and Recognition
In 2015, Mukto-Mona won an award called "The Bobs – Best of Online Activism." This award came from Deutsche Welle, a German public broadcaster. Blogger Rafida Bonya Ahmed, who was the wife of Avijit Roy, accepted the award.
