http://www.article19.org/pdfs/publications/tajikistan-policy-of-control.pdf
Tajikistan: New ARTICLE 19 Report Shows Freedom of Expression Under Threat
ARTICLE 19 today launches its new report, The Policy of Control: the State of Freedom of Expression in Tajikistan. This report shows that compliance with international standards of freedom of expression is still a long way away in Tajikistan.
A decade since the end of the civil war, Tajikistan is still recovering economically and psychologically. Substantive democratic reform is needed to ensure political freedom, access to information and pluralistic forms of expression.
The media in Tajikistan is still largely controlled by the State authorities and the independent media struggles to operate in an industry that is subject to stringent licensing regulations. The authorities use a number of methods to interfere in the daily activities of the print and broadcast media; there is also manipulation of State-run facilities, such as printing houses, to exert pressure. This was particularly evident during last year’s presidential elections. Moreover, websites and newspapers have been targeted, and journalists have suffered various forms of harassment - including death threats.
Although the right of freedom of expression is guaranteed in the Constitution, many journalists resort to self-censorship to avoid persecution. Extremely low salaries and difficult economic conditions have also made Tajik journalists susceptible to accepting payments for articles. More media training is needed to create industry standards and a level of professionalism that cannot be tainted by State pressure.
Defamation is a criminal offence in Tajikistan, with excessive penalties and special protection against defamation and insult of the President or other public officials. This makes it virtually impossible for journalists and other groups to be critical of the government and publicly call into account their actions, an important function of any open, democratic society.
ARTICLE 19’s recommendations include:
• Reform of the Law on Television and Radio Broadcasting
• Ensuring that all forms of harassment against the media are brought to an end
• Abolishment of all criminal provisions on defamation (and particularly the special protection for the President and public officials)
• Transformation of the State broadcaster into a public service broadcaster
A copy of the report is available at:
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, please contact Federica Prina, Senior Programme Officer (Russia and Central Asia, federica@article19.org, +44 20 7278 9292
ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works globally to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.