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MAN ARRESTED IN AZERBAIJAN FOR POSTING CRITICISM IN FACEBOOK
19:12 15/08/2013 Â" LAW
The court of Astara region in Azerbaijan sentenced the resident of
the same region, Mikayil Talibov to correctional labor for a year
with retention of 20% salary, reports Azerbaijani news agency Turan.
"The verdict of Astara regional court became the first case of
implementation of the recent legislative amendments, which imply
criminal punishment for libel and insult in the Internet," writes
the agency.
The article reads that the Media Rights Institute (MRI) strongly
condemns the harsh verdict related to the freedom of expression
in Internet discussions. "The verdict is alien to democratic
principles, contradicts the Constitution, which provides the freedom
of expression," reads the MRI announcement.
According to Turan, the reason for Talibov's sentence was the
criticism against AccessBank, where he used to work. He considered
the termination of his contract illegal and created a Facebook page
called "Accessbank- Haqsızbank" ("Accessbank-Unfair bank").
The bank sued Talibov in its turn, the court acknowledged the phrases
"Accessbank-Unfair bank," "Money earned in Azerbaijan is against
Azerbaijan," "Accessbank builds up political pressure on Azerbaijan,
fosters discontent among the population," "the bank takes 5000 manat
bribe for 50 000 manat loan" as libel.
The court forced Talibov to post rebuttal in Facebook social network.
"IPM views the verdict as a serious threat to the freedom of expression
in the Internet and calls on the government of Azerbaijan to pass a
law cancelling the criminal penalty for defamation," reads the article.
Turan reminds that the representatives of the government and parliament
claimed during the parliamentary discussions of the given document
that the penalties won't be implied to expressions in social networks,
they'll only cover online media.
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a bill in June,
which referred to the amendments by the parliament of the state to the
Criminal code on May 14. The amendments expanded the criminal penalties
to the expressions in the Internet as well. The given decision of
the President of Azerbaijan was condemned by the Commissioner for
Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muižnieks and the OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja MijatoviÄ~G.
Source: Panorama.am
19:12 15/08/2013 Â" LAW
The court of Astara region in Azerbaijan sentenced the resident of
the same region, Mikayil Talibov to correctional labor for a year
with retention of 20% salary, reports Azerbaijani news agency Turan.
"The verdict of Astara regional court became the first case of
implementation of the recent legislative amendments, which imply
criminal punishment for libel and insult in the Internet," writes
the agency.
The article reads that the Media Rights Institute (MRI) strongly
condemns the harsh verdict related to the freedom of expression
in Internet discussions. "The verdict is alien to democratic
principles, contradicts the Constitution, which provides the freedom
of expression," reads the MRI announcement.
According to Turan, the reason for Talibov's sentence was the
criticism against AccessBank, where he used to work. He considered
the termination of his contract illegal and created a Facebook page
called "Accessbank- Haqsızbank" ("Accessbank-Unfair bank").
The bank sued Talibov in its turn, the court acknowledged the phrases
"Accessbank-Unfair bank," "Money earned in Azerbaijan is against
Azerbaijan," "Accessbank builds up political pressure on Azerbaijan,
fosters discontent among the population," "the bank takes 5000 manat
bribe for 50 000 manat loan" as libel.
The court forced Talibov to post rebuttal in Facebook social network.
"IPM views the verdict as a serious threat to the freedom of expression
in the Internet and calls on the government of Azerbaijan to pass a
law cancelling the criminal penalty for defamation," reads the article.
Turan reminds that the representatives of the government and parliament
claimed during the parliamentary discussions of the given document
that the penalties won't be implied to expressions in social networks,
they'll only cover online media.
The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a bill in June,
which referred to the amendments by the parliament of the state to the
Criminal code on May 14. The amendments expanded the criminal penalties
to the expressions in the Internet as well. The given decision of
the President of Azerbaijan was condemned by the Commissioner for
Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muižnieks and the OSCE
Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja MijatoviÄ~G.
Source: Panorama.am