DUSHANBE, August 24, Asia-Plus — A process of making amendments to the country’s Criminal Code, criminalizing libel and other forms of defamation on the Internet, went off too hurriedly, without discussions with journalists, Qironsho Sharifzoda, Tajik journalist and head of the Association of Journalists of Tajikistan “Social Partnership”, said in an interview with Asia-Plus, commenting on the Internet libel law. 

President Emomali Rahmon signed the law on July 30, and the legislative amendments were published in Sadoi Mardum, an official paper of the Tajik parliament, on August 7.  

“Logical question arises mow, whether such amendments will be made to the media legislation as well,” said Sharifzoda, “I believe it is inevitable, but it will have negative consequences.”  “It is impossible to control Internet, you know, and therefore, it will be just a method to hurt rights of journalists.” 

He added that there is only one way to control Internet, “ that which Tajik authorities used in October 2006, when it blocked five Internet sites.  “However, we all well know that this move failed to settle “the issue of information security,” Sharifzoda said.  .

In the meantime, Radio Liberty’ Tajik Service said on August 23 that the head of the Tajik Center for Media Studies Khurshed Atovullo had noted authorities will find it difficult to prosecute their toughest critics.  According to him, it is impossible to implement this law, because those websites who publish critical materials about Tajikistan -- or use more or less libel and defamation in their articles -- usually have a domain outside Tajikistan.

Nuriddin Qarshiboyev, who heads the Naitonal Association of Independent Media of Tjikistan (Nansmit), predicted that that the new law will increase self-censorship among Tajik journalists.

We will recall that the parliament approved legislation making it a criminal offence to publish false or offensive information on the Internet in July.  Under the proposal, anyone who publishes statements that "offend dignity" may face imprisonment.

Human rights groups have criticized Tajik authorities for using legislation against slandering the president to restrict political debate.  Thus, a report released by the London-based human rights group Article 19 last month said,  "In practice, the defamation provisions are often applied not only to factually false attacks on reputation, but when the media criticizes politicians."

A number of Tajik media-rights groups warned in an open letter sent to President Rahmon that the legislation, which also covers Internet-based publications, would be in violation of international media standards and norms.