Journalists condemn plans to return censorship, and urge authorities to change politics

Baku / 03.05.18 / Turan: "Legislation in the field of media: does censorship return?" was the theme of public hearings held by the Media Club on May 3 on the occasion of World Freedom Day. The hearing was attended by members of the Media Club, media experts, journalists and lawyers. At the beginning of the event, the participants honored the memory of the journalists killed in Azerbaijan by a minute of silence.

During the hearings, attention was focused on the issue of media freedom, including freedom of the Internet and restrictive steps of the authorities against social media. Expert in the field of media law Alesker Mammadli noted that since 2007, media restrictions have been introduced to media legislation 13 times.

"Each time these restrictions were more reactionary. The last restrictions were introduced yesterday, May 2. Contrary to Article 50 of the Constitution on the inadmissibility of censorship, the law on state censorship was introduced into the legislation. Thus, the parliament exceeded its authority and violated the constitution," Mammadli said.

In the Broadcasting Law adopted in 2002, since 2004, eight restrictions have been imposed. First, the powers of the regulating body, the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC), which were allowed to fine the broadcasting structures, were expanded. Later, NTRC was given the right to suspend broadcasting, and then shut down television and radio.

Regressive changes were also made in the 2005 Law on Receiving Information. It provided for the establishment of an information ombudsman institution. However, in 2012 this rule was removed from the law and the powers of the information ombudsman were transferred to the human rights commissioner, Mammadli said.

Arif Aliyev, the head of the journalist association "Yeni Nesil" noted the need to analyze media legislation and prepare a package of proposals for restoring media freedom. "It is necessary to prepare a roadmap for the development of the media and implement it," he said.

The director of the Turan Agency, Mehman Aliyev noted, these documents should contain a message to the society that the policy on freedom of media, which has been conducted in the country, has not justified itself.

"Studies show that only 20% of the population is watching music TV channels. 67% of the country's residents watch Turkish TV channels. A lot of those who watch Russian channels. Print media is completely under the control of the government, but they are not read, as are many pro-governmental websites. Despite the high costs for the media sphere, the government has lost the information impact on society," he noted.

"Last year at least 14 media sites without a court decision were blocked in violation of the law," M.Aliyev said. The chairman of the Union of Journalists, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Aina-Zerkalo", Elchin Shikhli, suggested holding public monitoring of the Fund's activities on state support of the media under the president.

"Through this Fund, huge amounts have been spent from the state budget. It is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of these costs," Shikhli said.

Head of the Foundation for the Development of Journalism, Gulu Maharramli, urged the authorities to realize their responsibility to put an end to the restriction of media freedom. "This policy has turned into a destructive energy within the country. Those who conduct this policy must realize responsibility before the society and the state," said Maharramli. -06D-