DUSHANBE, October 19, 2010, Asia-Plus – On Monday October 18, Tajikistan’s Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law (BHR) and the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) released a joint statement, in which they expressed concern about pressure on independent media in the country.
The statement, in particular, says the pressure made on independent print media in the country, refusal of state-run and private printing houses to print some independent media and restriction of access to some websites as well as suspension of the Dushanbe independent weekly
Farazh
evoke serious concern.
Referring to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Human Rights (Tajikistan joined ICCPR in 1999), the human rights organization and the media watchdog note that “the most important elements of the rule-of-law society include freedom of opinions, the right to get and release information, exchange of ideas without interference of the authorities, and existence of free and searching media.”
Pressure on the country’s independent media may lead to serious restriction of freedom of speech in the country and self-censorship among journalists, the statement said, noting that all this may undermine Tajikistan’s image ahead of presentation of Tajikistan’s Universal Periodic Review to the United Nations Human Rights Council scheduled for 2011.
BHR and Nansmit call on the Government of Tajikistan to take measure to prevent restriction of freedom of speech and pressure on independent print media in the country and reopen access to the blocked websites.
We will recall that heads of 14 media organizations, print and electronic media sent a letter to Saymurod Fattoyev, State Adviser to the President of Tajikistan for Social Development and Public Relations, on October 14, in which they expressed concern about pressure made on independent media lately. The letter, in particular, cites cases of printing houses’ refusal to print some independent newspapers and blockage of some web sites. In their letter, the media heads also ask Mr. Fattoyev to meet with them and clarify reasons for the current situation around the independent media in the country.
