To Err is Human, Except in Tajikistan
July 24, 2007 by krisdhingra
Filed under News
Or so it seems going by one of the legislations recently approved by the Tajikistan Parliament.
Tajikistan’s parliament has approved legislation making it a criminal offence to publish false or offensive information on the internet. The bill must be signed off by President Emomali Rakhmon before becoming law. Under the proposal, anyone who publishes statements that “offend dignity” may face imprisonment. Tajik media are largely state-run and human rights groups say the country lacks freedom of expression. While only a small proportion of the mountainous country’s six million people have access to the internet, it provides a rare space for dissent, campaigners say (Source).
Although the main intent of the legislation is to prevent any criticism or opposition of the ruling parliament and it’s policies, it is still quite significant in terms of it’s impact on the concept of free media and freedom of speech. Imagine being put behind bars just because you made a mistake in one of your articles published on the internet. This ruling is surely gonna give all the journalists and bloggers in tajikistan many sleepless nights.
Tags: tajikistan, offence, criminal, media, legislation
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posted by krisdhingra in News |
Vadim on Wed, 22nd Aug 2007 5:39 pm
Oh yeah, it is going to be bad, if the the President signs this document. Hope he does not. Recently a group of influential media people wrote a letter to President Rahmon with a request no to make this happen.