DUSHANBE, December 2, 2012, Asia-Plus — International community has condemned blockage of access to a number of websites in Tajikistan.
In a statement released on November 30, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, n particular, noted that it is concerned with the apparent decision by the Communications Service of the Republic of Tajikistan to block access to Facebook, Radio Ozodi (Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service), and other Internet news sites.
“The United States believes that the right of individuals to express their views freely is universal, whether exercised in a public square or on the Internet.
“We urge the Government of Tajikistan to respect individual rights to freedom of expression and lift its restriction on Facebook, Radio Ozodi, and other blocked news sites,” the statement said.
International media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RWB), has also strongly condemned the Tajik authorities for blocking access to Facebook and Radio Ozodi.
“We strongly condemn blockage of Radio Ozodi in Tajikistan that has happened right after blockage of access to Facebook,” Johann Bihr, Head of the Europe and Central Asia Desk, RWB told Radio Liberty in an interview on November 30.
“We call on the Tajik authorities to restore access to these websites and express concern over the fact that the Tajik authorities have begun to frequently resort to this method. It is already the third wave of blockages of websites [in Tajikistan],” Mr. Bihr said, noting this year Tajikistan will be added to a list of “countries under surveillance” maintained by Reporters Without Border.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) reported on November 29 that there are “bad news … from Tajikistan where early this week The Next Web reported that the Tajik government has blocked access to Facebook, branding the social media site a “hotbed of slander.”
In an attempt to defend the decision, Tajikistan”s Director of Communication Services Beg Zuhurov reportedly stated: “I received many calls from citizens of Tajikistan, asking me to shut down this Facebook as a hotbed of slander. Unknown people there insult the leaders of the state. They are apparently being paid well for that.”
“This is the second time that the Central Asian country has blocked access to Facebook; the first occurred in March 2012. As we stated at the time, Tajikistan”s constitution provides that “state censorship and prosecution for criticism are forbidden,” EFF said, reiterating its call to the Tajik authorities to protect the dual rights to free expression and information.
