DUSHANBE, March 12, 2012, Asia-Plus — On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Tajikistan’s journalism President Emomali Rahmon has offered to decriminalize libel and insult.
He remarked this at a meeting with journalists that took place at the Opera and Ballet Theatre in Dushanbe on March 10. The meeting was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Tajik press.
We will recall that by president’s decree the Tajik Press Day has been marked on March 11 since 1993. The Tajik Press Day is marked on March 11 in honor of the first Tajik-language newspaper Bukhoroi Sharif (Glorious Bukhara), the first edition of which was issued on March 11, 1912.
Speaking at the meeting, the head of state noted that that date is not only professional holiday of journalists, “it is the nationwide holiday.”
Emomali Rahmon offered to remove articles on defamation and insult (Articles 135 and 136) from criminal legislation and preserve them in the Civil Code.
He called on journalists to boldly cover existing shortcomings and mistakes of the authorities.
The president criticized work of state-run media. “When reading the state-run media, one may come to the conclusion that there are no any problems in Tajikistan. We just praise each other. In my opinion, one of reasons for collapse of the Soviet Union was an excessive laudation of the system by journalists.”
The head of state also pointed to the necessity of establishing the Academy of TV and Radio.
Emomali Rahmon proposed to institute the National Sadriddin Ayni Award for considerable contributions in the field of journalism.
The president noted that freedom of media is one of the most important achievements of independent Tajikistan.
