DOCSLIB.ORG

The Right to Offend, Shock Or Disturb

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Right to Offend, Shock Or Disturb The Right to Offend, Shock or Disturb A Guide to Evolution of Insult Laws in 2007 and 2008 by Carolyn R. Wendell preface by Richard N. Winfield introduction by Caroline Fourest World Press Freedom Committee publication sponsored by Ringier AG The World Press Freedom Committee is a coordination group of national and international news media organizations. It has 45 affiliates on six continents and is dedicated to: • News media free of government interference • A full and free flow of news • Practical assistance to media needing it For more information about WPFC, please consult our web site, www.wpfc.org Funding of this publication, by Ringier AG, Zurich, Switzerland Country maps by permission of The Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C. Press freedom ratings by Freedom House, New York, N.Y. Editor of the publication, Ronald Koven Other WPFC publications on this subject include: “Insult Laws: An Insult to Press Freedom, Study of More Than 90 Countries and Territories” by Ruth Walden, 286 pages, 2000 “Hiding From the People, How ‘insult’ laws restrict public scrutiny of public officials, What can be done about it,” 18 pages, 2000 “It’s a Crime: How Insult Laws Stifle Press Freedom, 2006 Status Report,” edited by Marilyn Greene, 306 pages, 2007 Those publications and copies of this book may be obtained by contacting: World Press Freedom Committee 11690-C Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20191 USA Tel. 1 (703) 715-9811 Fax 1 (703) 620-6790 E-mail: [email protected] Published by the World Press Freedom Committee © 2009 Table of Contents Biographical Notes ………………………………………………………. 1 Preface: The Seven Cardinal Sins of Insult Laws by Richard N. Winfield …………………………………………. 3 Introduction: Defamation of Religions versus Free Speech by Caroline Fourest ....................................................................... 5 European Union and Turkey Cyprus ......................................................................................................... 10 France .......................................................................................................... 12 Greece .......................................................................................................... 16 Poland ......................................................................................................... 19 Romania ...................................................................................................... 21 Slovenia ....................................................................................................... 23 Spain ............................................................................................................ 27 Turkey ......................................................................................................... 30 United Kingdom ......................................................................................... 37 Former Soviet Union Azerbaijan .................................................................................................. 40 Belarus ........................................................................................................ 44 Kazakhstan ................................................................................................. 47 Kirghizstan ................................................................................................. 51 Moldova …………………………………………………………...……... 53 Russia .......................................................................................................... 54 Tajikistan .................................................................................................... 61 Sub-Saharan Africa Burundi ....................................................................................................... 64 Cameroon ………………………………………………………………… 65 Central African Republic ………………………………………..……… 67 Chad ............................................................................................................ 68 Congo, Democratic Republic .................................................................... 69 Gambia ........................................................................................................ 70 Lesotho ........................................................................................................ 72 Liberia ......................................................................................................... 73 Mali .............................................................................................................. 74 Mauritania .................................................................................................. 75 Níger ............................................................................................................ 76 Rwanda ....................................................................................................... 77 Senegal ........................................................................................................ 78 Sierra Leone ............................................................................................... 81 Latin America Argentina .................................................................................................... 84 Brazil ……………………………………………………………………... 87 Chile ............................................................................................................ 88 Colombia ..................................................................................................... 91 Mexico ......................................................................................................... 93 Uruguay ...................................................................................................... 97 Asia Afghanistan ................................................................................................. 100 China ........................................................................................................... 102 India ............................................................................................................ 105 Indonesia ..................................................................................................... 107 Malaysia ...................................................................................................... 110 Mongolia ..................................................................................................... 111 Singapore .................................................................................................... 114 Sri Lanka .................................................................................................... 117 Thailand ...................................................................................................... 119 Middle East/North Africa Algeria ......................................................................................................... 126 Bahrain ....................................................................................................... 128 Egypt ........................................................................................................... 129 Iran ............................................................................................................. 132 Iraq ............................................................................................................. 135 Jordan ......................................................................................................... 137 Kuwait ........................................................................................................ 139 Lebanon ...................................................................................................... 141 Morocco ...................................................................................................... 143 Saudi Arabia .............................................................................................. 148 Syria ........................................................................................................... 150 Tunisia ........................................................................................................ 152 Yemen ......................................................................................................... 154 1 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Carolyn R. Wendell: As a freelance writer and editor, she has worked with public agencies, nonprofit groups and businesses. She currently works with The World Bank, Freedom Communications, and others. Previously, she spent eight years in the Community Publishing Division of Gannett Co., Inc. She conducted the research for the World Press Freedom Committee’s 2006 world insult law survey, “It’s a Crime: How Insult Laws Stifle Press Freedom.” Wendell earned a Bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William & Mary and a Master's in education from the University of Virginia. She lives in Falls Church, Virginia with her husband and daughter. Caroline Fourest: A prominent French journalist and author specialized in religious fundamentalism, secularism, right-wing political movements and feminism, she is co- founder and editor of the magazine ProChoix (Pro-choice), a regular contributor to the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and columnist for the daily Le Monde. She won the prestigious political book of the year prize in 2006 for “La Tentation Obscurantiste,” (The Obscurantist Temptation), awarded at the French National Assembly. In 2005, she won the Prix national de la laïcité (National Secularism Prize),
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 1Michael Brown, 2Galiya Ibrayeva Why Study Journalism: Motivation
    Michael Brown, Galiya Ibrayeva 35 UDC 19.01.09 1Michael Brown, 2Galiya Ibrayeva 1PhD Emeritus professor, University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming, USA e-mail: [email protected] 2Professor, doctor of political science al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan e-mail: [email protected] Why Study Journalism: Motivation of Future Kazakh Journalists This paper is part of a large international research project: Journalism Students across the Globe: Professionalization, Identity and Challenges in a Changing Environment. Journalism education in Kazakhstan, like elsewhere, needs to account for changes in the information environment. This project examines the motives to study journalism by students from Kazakhstan. Do today’s student motivations reflect an understanding of new media with its text, images, infographics, data, and new genres; and how should a journalist combine knowledge of the various media fields? Study of the motivations of Kazakh students in this context is important for both national interests and aligning Kazakh journalism education with international expectations. An online survey used open-ended questions to elicit replies. Questions focused on career opportunities for journalism students, aspects of education that motivate students and whether a university degree is necessary to become a professional journalist. Findings were compared to historical journalistic motivations in Kazakhstan. Students now are driven by different motives. In the past journalistic education was a building block for a career in politics or writing. Now students know various fields of journalism and what the fields offer. Journalism students prefer TV, but a high percentage also prefer the increasingly important online environment. The formula for modern education in the age of information and new technologies is an ongoing systematic process of learning for both educators and students, driven by motivations that are important not only within the walls of universities, but in everyday life.
    [Show full text]
  • Minority-Language Related Broadcasting and Legislation in the OSCE
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Other Publications from the Center for Global Center for Global Communication Studies Communication Studies (CGCS) 4-2003 Minority-Language Related Broadcasting and Legislation in the OSCE Tarlach McGonagle Bethany Davis Noll Monroe Price University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/cgcs_publications Part of the Critical and Cultural Studies Commons Recommended Citation McGonagle, Tarlach; Davis Noll, Bethany; and Price, Monroe. (2003). Minority-Language Related Broadcasting and Legislation in the OSCE. Other Publications from the Center for Global Communication Studies. Retrieved from https://repository.upenn.edu/cgcs_publications/3 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/cgcs_publications/3 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Minority-Language Related Broadcasting and Legislation in the OSCE Abstract There are a large number of language-related regulations (both prescriptive and proscriptive) that affect the shape of the broadcasting media and therefore have an impact on the life of persons belonging to minorities. Of course, language has been and remains an important instrument in State-building and maintenance. In this context, requirements have also been put in place to accommodate national minorities. In some settings, there is legislation to assure availability of programming in minority languages.1 Language rules have also been manipulated for restrictive, sometimes punitive ends. A language can become or be made a focus of loyalty for a minority community that thinks itself suppressed, persecuted, or subjected to discrimination. Regulations relating to broadcasting may make language a target for attack or suppression if the authorities associate it with what they consider a disaffected or secessionist group or even just a culturally inferior one.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Broadcasting in North Africa and the Middle East
    Published by Panos Paris Institute and Mediterranean Observatory of Communication © Consortium IPP-OMEC Date of publication May 2012 ISBN 978-84-939674-0-6 Panos Paris Institute 10, rue du Mail - F-75002 Paris Phone: +33 (0)1 40 41 13 31 Fax: 33 (0)1 40 41 03 30 http://www.panosparis.org Observatori Mediterrani de la Comunicació Campus de la UAB 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès) Phone: (+34) 93 581 3160 http://omec.uab.cat/ Responsibility for the content of these publications rests fully with their authors, and their publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Generalitat, Irish Aid nor the Open Society Foundations of the opinions expressed. Catalan publication: Editing: Annia García Printing: Printcolor, s.l French, English, Arabic publications: Editing: Caractères Pre-Press Printing: XL Print Photo Credits Front Cover: istockphoto.com Team responsible for the regional report This book owes much to the teams of the Panos Paris Institute (IPP), the Mediterranean Observatory of Communication (OMEC) and to the project partners in the countries of the MENA region: the Algerian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADDH Algeria), the Community Media Network (CMN, Jordan), Maharat foundation (Lebanon), the Centre for Media Freedom Middle East North Africa (CMF MENA, Morocco) and the AMIN Media Network (Palestine). Coordination of the regional report Charles AUTHEMAN (IPP) Coordinator Olga DEL RIO (OMEC) Coordinator Latifa TAYAH-GUENEAU (IPP) Coordinator Editorial committee Ricardo CARNIEL BUGS (OMEC) Editor Roland HUGUENIN-BENJAMIN (associate expert IPP) Editor Authors of the national reports Algeria Belkacem MOSTAFAOUI Professor, National Superior School of journalism and information sciences, Algiers Abdelmoumène KHELIL General Secretary, LADDH Egypt Rasha A.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainability Index 2006/2007
    MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2006/2007 The Development of Sustainable Independent Media in the Middle East and North Africa MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2006/2007 The Development of Sustainable Independent Media in the Middle East and North Africa www.irex.org/msi Copyright © 2008 by IREX IREX 2121 K Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20037 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (202) 628-8188 Fax: (202) 628-8189 www.irex.org Project manager: Leon Morse IREX Project and Editorial Support: Blake Saville, Mark Whitehouse, Christine Prince Copyeditors: Carolyn Feola de Rugamas, Carolyn.Ink; Kelly Kramer, WORDtoWORD Editorial Services Design and layout: OmniStudio Printer: Kirby Lithographic Company, Inc. Notice of Rights: Permission is granted to display, copy, and distribute the MSI in whole or in part, provided that: (a) the materials are used with the acknowledgement “The Media Sustainability Index (MSI) is a product of IREX with funding from USAID and the US State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative, and the Iraq study was produced with the support and funding of UNESCO.”; (b) the MSI is used solely for personal, noncommercial, or informational use; and (c) no modifications of the MSI are made. Acknowledgment: This publication was made possible through support provided by the United States Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. #DFD-A-00-05-00243 (MSI-MENA) via a Task Order by the Academy for Educational Development. Additional support for the Iraq study was provided by UNESCO. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are those of the panelists and other project researchers and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, MEPI, UNESCO, or IREX.
    [Show full text]
  • JGI V. 14, N. 2
    Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective Volume 14 Number 2 Multicultural Morocco Article 1 11-15-2019 Full Issue - JGI v. 14, n. 2 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jgi Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation (2019) "Full Issue - JGI v. 14, n. 2," Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective: Vol. 14 : No. 2 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jgi/vol14/iss2/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Global Initiatives: Policy, Pedagogy, Perspective by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@Kennesaw State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Multicultural Morocco JOURNAL of GLOBAL INITIATIVES POLICY, PEDAGOGY, PERSPECTIVE 2019 VOLUME 14 NUMBER 2 Journal of global Initiatives Vol. 14, No. 2, 2019, pp.1-28. The Year of Morocco: An Introduction Dan Paracka Marking the 35th anniversary of Kennesaw State University’s award-winning Annual Country Study Program, the 2018-19 academic year focused on Morocco and consisted of 22 distinct educational events, with over 1,700 people in attendance. It also featured an interdisciplinary team-taught Year of Morocco (YoM) course that included a study abroad experience to Morocco (March 28-April 7, 2019), an academic conference on “Gender, Identity, and Youth Empowerment in Morocco” (March 15-16, 2019), and this dedicated special issue of the Journal of Global Initiatives. Most events were organized through six different College Spotlights titled: The Taste of Morocco; Experiencing Moroccan Visual Arts; Multiple Literacies in Morocco; Conflict Management, Peacebuilding, and Development Challenges in Morocco, Moroccan Cultural Festival; and Moroccan Solar Tree.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological Problems in Mass Media in Kazakhstan
    B. Zh. Karimova et al /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 10(6), 2018, 1422-1427 Ecological Problems in Mass Media in Kazakhstan B. Zh. Karimova1, S. K. Alimbekova 1, A. D. Mukhatova 2 1Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Republic of Kazakhstan, 050040, Almaty City, Al-Farabi Street, 71 2L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Republic of Kazakhstan, 010008, Astana City, Kazhimukhan Street, 11 Abstract Ecological problems in Kazakhstan are presented in this article. Firstly, it considers ecological journalism in Kazakhstan Secondly, effective coverage of environmental and natural resources in Central Asia by the media are analyzed. Thirdly, environmental problems in the media are discussed. The purpose of research is to study ecological issues in Kazakhstan, to define the consequences of Semipalatinsk testing site and the Aral Sea. The role of media in informing people about environmental problems, measures taken in Central Asia to support environmental journalists will be examined more deeply and the results of the survey, which was conducted among students to learn of their ecological consciousness, will be analyzed. The methods include: Historical comparative method, methods of systematization, analysis, synthesis, questionnaire are applied in this paper. Keywords: ecological journalism, environment, media, nuclear weapons. INTRODUCTION during irradiation to future generations. Today, thousands of Since the beginning of the XXI century, the ecological victims living adjacent to the landfill have no support from the situation and the state of the environment have sharply worsened. state. And although the law "On Rehabilitation of the Population Every year, environmental problems increase, many of them Affected by Nuclear Tests" was passed in 1992, it does not work directly a result of the lack of public awareness.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I. GENERAL INFORMATION Academic Calendar History and achievements of KIMEP KIMEP Profile PART II. STUDY RULES AND REGULATIONS OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR Graduate and Undergraduate Admission Policy Statement Credit System Student status at KIMEP Grading System Grade Point Average (GPA) Transcripts Registration for classes Transfer between Programs Transfer of credits and exemption policies Academic Advising Policy Policy for Academic Probation and Suspension Policies on Student Research Management and Thesis Academic Awards and Honors Academic Code of Behavior Identification Policy Graduation Requirements Code of Confidentiality On-Line resources for students, faculty, administration and public PART III. STUDENT AFFAIRS Student Life Student housing: KIMEP dormitory and housing program Residential assistant program Code of behavior and student disciplinary procedures PART IV. TUITION FEES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS Student financial services Types of financial aid Work-study tuition discounts Tuition And Fees for Students: 2007-2008 Academic Year 1 PART V. COLLEGES, ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT UNITS Undergraduate General Education Program BANG COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Mission College Council Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting (B.Sc.) Master of Business Administration (MBA) Doctor of business Administration (DBA) Executive Master of Business Administration (ExMBA) COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Mission College Council Department of Political Science Mission Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSS)
    [Show full text]
  • SUSTAINABILITY INDEPENDENT MEDIA in the Middle East INDEX and North Africa 2009 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2009
    algeria egypt iraq jordan bahrain kuwait lebanon morocco libya oman palestine united arab emirates saudi arabia syria iraq-kurdistan tunisia iran qatar yemen DEVELOPMENT MEDIA OF SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABILITY INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN THE MIDDLE EAST INDEX AND NORTH AFRICA 2009 MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2009 The Development of Sustainable Independent Media in the Middle East and North Africa MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX 2009 The Development of Sustainable Independent Media in the Middle East and North Africa www.irex.org/msi Copyright © 2011 by IREX IREX 2121 K Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20037 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (202) 628-8188 Fax: (202) 628-8189 www.irex.org Project manager: Leon Morse Assistant editor: Dayna Kerecman Myers Copyeditors: Carolyn Feola de Rugamas, Carolyn.Ink; Kelly Kramer, WORDtoWORD Editorial Services; OmniStudio Design and layout: OmniStudio Printer: Westland Enterprises, Inc. Notice of Rights: Permission is granted to display, copy, and distribute the MSI in whole or in part, provided that: (a) the materials are used with the acknowledgement “The Media Sustainability Index (MSI) is a product of IREX with funding from USAID.”; (b) the MSI is used solely for personal, noncommercial, or informational use; and (c) no modifications of the MSI are made. Acknowledgment: This publication was made possible through support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. #DFD-A-00-05-00243 (MSI-MENA) via a Task Order by the Academy for Educational Development. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are those of the panelists and other project researchers and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or IREX.
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Assessment Report
    The European Union’s “Media for improved reporting on environment and natural resources in Central Asia” programme Regional Assessment Report This project is funded by A project implemented by The European Union Internews Regional Assessment on access to and quality of information on environmental issues for Internews Project “Media for improved reporting on environment and natural resources in Central Asia” funded by the European Union. RESEARCH REPORT This report has been produced with funding from the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of SIAR Research&Consulting and Internews and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. Commissioner: Internews Kyrgyz Republic 720010 Bishkek, Chokmorova, 234a E-mail: [email protected] Executor: SIAR Research&Consulting Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 147 Moskovskaya str, Office 1 Tel: +996 312 976331 E-mail: [email protected] September 2016 2 CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Findings ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 Central Asia summary ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • AMO Cover-F-Eng
    1 ss;s; PRODUCTION TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 02 Project Team Foreword: Dubai Press Club 04 Foreword: Deloitte Maryam Bin Fahad, Executive Director 06 Acknowledgements Nadin Al Lahham, Business Development Supervisor 08 Executive Summary Adel Ibrahim, Senior Manager Operations 12 Methodology Muna Busamra, Deputy Manager Arab Journalism Award Sadiq Jarrar, Communications & PR Manager Section 1: Arab Media in a Global Context 15 Jasim Al Shemsi, Deputy Project Manager Mohab Mazen, Deputy Events Manager 1. Print 25 Afra Matar, Brand Executive 2. TV 41 Khalid Jamal, PR Coordinator 3. Digital 57 Ahmad Khalid, Events Coordinator 4. Other Platforms 77 Khulood Alkhoory, Media Relations Coordinator 5. TV Series 81 Rajeev Kandathil, Administrative Executive 6. Movies 95 Mohamed Al Hosany, Events Coordinator 7. Sports 109 Ahmed Al Muhairbi, Media Relations Coordinator 8. Music 123 Ahmed Al Hashimi, Media Relations Coordinator Abdul Hani Aliouat, Arabic Editor & Proofreader Section 2: Regional Update 135 Dana Beydoun, Senior Editor In-focus countries 137 Sireen Jannoun, Senior Editor Country-by-country update 175 Section 3: The Media Revolution For Feedback and Review 1. Introduction 223 Dr. Hessa Lootah, Assistant Professor Department of Public Media and Communications - Emirates University 2. Social Media 224 Mamoon Sbeih, Managing Director - Arab Region, APCO Worldwide 3. Satellite TV 229 Craig D`Silva, Project Consultant, APCO Worldwide 4. Implications for the Future 232 Musab Zakarya – For translation 5. Conclusion 238 For Deloitte Glossary
    [Show full text]
  • Media Landscape and the State of the Freedom of Media in Selected ENP and EU Countries
    Media landscape and the state of the freedom of media in selected ENP and EU countries Media analysis Warsaw 2019 Media landscape and the state of the freedom of media in selected ENP and EU countries Dominik Cagara, Michał Kobosko, Ewa Stasiak-Jazukiewicz, Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Anatoliy Martsynkovskyi, Natalia Moghilda Editors Dominik Cagara, Michał Kobosko Technical editor Marcin Sobala Published by College of Europe Natolin Campus Nowoursynowska 84 02-797 Warsaw, Poland This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the College of Europe, Natolin and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. Unless otherwise indicated, this publication and its contents are the property of the Natolin Campus of the College of Europe. All rights reserved. College of Europe Natolin Campus ul. Nowoursynowska 84 PL 02-797 Warsaw, Poland www.coleuropenatolin.eu 2 ENP SOUTH Dr. Roxane Farmanfarmaian Social and political dimension of journalism (popular topics, EU journalists about ENP and ENP journalists about EU, how well are the regions covered amongst each other, trends, gaps, cultural differences in information expectations, sources of information) Regional overview: The restricted environment for political and investigative journalism in the region is a key issue for EU journalism, which focuses generally on practices of self-censorship, government manipulation of media, constraints on reportage, and protection of journalists. National and economic developments receive good coverage; EU reportage is less nuanced and informed about local and less mainstream mass media such as radio. It is particularly unskilled at assessing Islamic media popularity, influences and impacts, including both locally produced and regionally produced programming.
    [Show full text]
  • Freedom of the Press 2008 Draft Country Reports
    www.freedomhouse.org Freedom of the Press 2008 Draft Country Reports Embargoed for April 29, 2008 Afghanistan Status: Not Free Legal Environment: 21 Political Environment: 30 Economic Environment: 20 Total Score: 71 As the media environment has continued to grow and diversify, journalists faced rising threats in 2007, mostly in the form of physical attacks and intimidation. Article 34 of the new constitution, passed in January 2004, provides for freedom of the press and of expression. A revised 2005 Press Law guarantees the right of citizens to obtain information and prohibits censorship. However, it retains broad restrictions on content that is “contrary to the principles of Islam or offensive to other religions and sects” and “matters leading to dishonoring and defaming individuals.” It also establishes five commissions intended to regulate media agencies and investigate complaints of misconduct; one of the commissions has the power to decide if journalists who contravene the law should face court prosecution or a fine. Critics of the law have alleged that its prohibition of “anti-Islamic” writings is overly vague and has led to considerable confusion within the journalistic community on what constitutes permissible content. Amendments to the media law proposed in May 2007 could give authorities greater control over content and include vague prohibitions on defamation; these were opposed by local journalists and the proposal had been withdrawn by the government by year’s end. Media outlets are occasionally fined or given warnings for broadcasting “un- Islamic” material or offending local culture. Cases of journalists and others being arrested on blasphemy charges have had a chilling effect on press freedom, with an accompanying rise in self-censorship.
    [Show full text]