I only spoke the truth: Taslima Nasreen on FIR against tweets

Shocked to hear that an FIR was lodged in Lucknow against her for allegedly hurting religious sentiments in a tweet last month, controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen today said she had only spoken the truth.

"I do not know what wrong have I done with those tweets. I only spoke the truth and once again they are after me," Taslima told PTI from New Delhi.

"I am shocked to hear this. How can this happen in a democratic country like India where the Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and expression," wondered the 51-year-old author who was forced to flee from Bangladesh after threats from fundamentalists for hurting religious sentiments.

A case against her was lodged last night at Kotwali police station by Hasan Raza Khan Noori Miyan, son of the 'sajjadanasheen' of Dargah-e-Ala Hazrat Maulana Subhan Raza Khan Subhani Miyan, who objected to certain tweets by her against clerics on November 6.

After Arvind Kejriwal sought support for his Aam Aadmi Party from controversial Uttar Pradesh cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan, Taslima had criticised the meeting on Twitter.

In 2007, the Maulana had announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh on the author's head if New Delhi did not restrict her entry to the country.

Following violent protests over renewal of her visa later on, she was bundled out of Kolkata by the authorities to Delhi.

Noting that her freedom of speech and expression has always been in danger, the author said, "Fundamentalists do not believe in human rights and so I am never allowed to speak even the truth."

She has been in news for her controversial books like 'Lajja' and 'Dwikhandito'.