Media Rights Institute condemns the defamation spread on the Internet

Media Rights Institute (MRI) has strongly condemned  the amendments to the legislation establishing criminal penalties for defamation on the Internet adopted by Parliament on May 14.

MRI considers that these penalties are one of the means to stifle freedom of expression.

"The presence of these Articles 147 and 148 of the Criminal Code is contrary to the decisions of the Council of Europe, and especially in  the case law of the European Court of Human Rights on freedom of expression," reads the statement of the MRI.

Moreover, according to the president of Azerbaijan, the National Program for Strengthening the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms approved in 2011,  proposals to decriminalize defamation  should be prepared in 2012.

However, despite this, the Azerbaijani Parliament has  toughen penalties for libel and slander.

IPM regards it as a regress and  violation of the obligations of the government.—16/06D--

 

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