DUSHANBE, November 3, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Visiting group of members of the Bundestag (Germany’s lower house of parliament), led by Ms. Angelika Graf, member of the Bundestag and deputy spokeswoman on human rights and humanitarian aid for the Social Democratic group in the Bundestag, on November 2 met here with representatives of Tajikistan’s mass media and media organizations.

Ms. Graf noted that German MPs would like to know the human rights situation in Tajikistan and problems existing in this sphere.

Chairman of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), Nouriddin Qarshiboyev, for his part, noted that no positive changes have been reported in the human rights situation in the country over the past two or three years.  “Cases of legal prosecution of journalists and media outlets have become more frequent in recent years because our officials are intolerant of criticism and they frequently perceive it as encroachment on their power,” he noted.

The media watchdog head also noted, “Although discussion of a new draft law on media began more than a year ago, it is not yet clear at what stage that draft law is now.”

At the same time, he termed strengthening of consolidation of Tajik journalist community as a positive moment.  “The last two sentences on two journalists are a positive step in this direction, despite the fact that they are unacceptable for us,” Qarshiboyev added.

Mr. Michael Unland, Media Officer, OSCE Office in Tajikistan, also noted that the number of lawsuits filed against media outlets and journalists has increased in recent years.  “We have registered 12 such cases; court hearings have been held over three of them and a total amount of compensations demanded by plaintiffs for moral damages  is nearly 1.5 million euros,” said Mr. Unland.  “Such compensation amounts may lead to bankruptcy of the publications.”

Ms. Akvile Normantiene, Political Officer at the Delegation of the European Union in Tajikistan, noted that the European Union was concerned over deterioration of the freedom of speech situation and access to information in Tajikistan.  “The Human Rights Dialogue between Tajikistan and the European Union took place in Dushanbe last week and it is to be noted that the issue of freedom of speech and access to information remains one of the most complex issues that we are discussing with the government,” she noted.

According to her, the two important issues that the European Union will bring to Tajik government’s attention in the future as well are decriminalization of defamation and insult laws and the new draft law on media.

Mr. Volker Beck, Member of the Bundestag for Cologne, the ALLIANCE 90/THE GREENS parliamentary group, for his part, noted that the German Bundestag had established the Parliamentarians Protect Parliamentarians program at the proposal of the Committee on Human Rights and Human Aid. It is reportedly intended to offer protection to parliamentarians and human rights defenders who work for civil society organisations all over the world when they are prevented from exercising their mandates or their lives are threatened on account of their commitment to human rights.  Among the instruments available under this protection program are special partnerships, with which Members of the German Bundestag support colleagues, journalists and human rights activists in other countries.

The German parliamentary delegation reportedly arrived in Dushanbe on November 1 on a five-day visit.

On Tuesday, the German parliamentary delegation reportedly held talks with the Majlisi Namoyandagon committee chairpersons Mahmadali Vatanov, Marhabo Jabborova, Olim Salimzoda and Azizmat Imomov.  Development of inter-parliamentary relations, observance of human rights and freedoms as well as the current situation in Central Asia and Afghanistan were the focus of discussions.

The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany.  In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house.  The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier Reichstag.  Half of the members of the Bundestag are elected directly from 299 constituencies (first-past-the-post system), the other half are elected from the parties’ Land lists in such a way as to achieve proportional representation for the total Bundestag (if possible).