Will they really succeed? Azerbaijan can do without imprisoning journalists

20 may 2009

As reported by the "Trend" Agency, a group of leaders of journalists' organizations of Azerbaijan has addressed their statement to the Milli Majlis with regard to adoption of the Law "On Defamation".

The journalists' statement runs that since 2005, under Articles 147 ("Slander") and 148 ("Insult") of the Criminal Code, journalists have been made answerable, and the editions they represent have been fined.

"This caused criticism of Azerbaijan by international entities. European organizations are anxious about the fate of the journalists imprisoned for criticism. The way out is to cancel the provisions of criminal liability for defamation," the statement further says.

The bill "On Defamation" was drafted with support of the Baku-based OSCE office in 2005. MPs Ganira Pashaeva and Azai Guliev, journalists and lawyers took part in the process.

International organizations assert that Articles 147 ("Slander") and 148 ("Insult"), which assume criminal liability, should be deleted from the country's Criminal Code.

Aflatun Amashov, Chairman of the Board of Press of Azerbaijan, has addressed Speaker Oktai Asadov as regards of discussing the bill "On Defamation" in Parliament.

The statement runs that one of these days the head of the state plans to reconsider the journalists' imprisonment. The problem of removing criminal liability for defamation is in the focus of attention.

"The raised problem reconfirms that it is impossible to imprison journalists for their touching on the issues of social and public importance. It does not mean that journalists can disregard the law and write whatever they would. But the level of punishment should be adequate. There is no need to apply imprisonment to journalists," the statement concludes.

The leaders of journalists' organizations call to liquidate imprisonment as a measure of punishment.

The statement was signed by leaders of Azerbaijani associations of journalists, Association of Journalists "New generation", League of Democratic Journalists, Centre of Journalism and Development, Centre of Mass Media of Azerbaijan and Nadzhaf Nadzhafov Foundation.

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I recollect the words of late Elmar Guseinov (editor-in-chief of "Monitor" magazine murdered by gunmen): "The article on criminal liability should never be cancelled. If the stop imprisoning, they'll start killing."

In his own case, he, unfortunately, proved to be a prophet.