Tajik authorities are reportedly tracing Internet correspondences to prevent terrorist acts.
In a statement delivered at an expert workshop in Sarajevo, Abdurahim Abdulhasanov, the head of the department to oversee observation of laws by the national security bodies at Tajikistan’s Prosecutor-General’s Office, revealed on September 8 that Tajik law enforcement authorities have managed to prevent eight terrorist acts tracing Internet correspondences.
“We should not allow violation of human rights and freedoms, including right to freedom of speech and private contact. However, in Tajikistan we proceed from the necessity of observation of the main right declared by the United Nations — the right to life,” Abdulhasanov said.
According to him the terrorist acts have been prevented by studying various materials posted on the Internet, tracing conversations carried out through Viber and other messengers.
Meanwhile, press release issued by the OSCE notes that Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, said in her opening address on September 7 that national security concerns are on many occasions used to restrict freedom of speech online, contravening OSCE commitments and international standards for the protection of human rights. She urged governments to look for other solutions, highlighting the need to facilitate credible counter-speech.
“We should not be willing to compromise on the idea of the Internet as an open, free and secure place for communication,” Mijatovic said. “Free expression and new technologies should be looked upon as tools to counter terrorism and not as a restraint in the fight against it.”
The expert workshop “Freedom of Expression on the Internet and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism,” (VERLT) was organized by the OSCE with the support of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Security. Some 120 participants representing governmental authorities, international organizations, academia, civil society and media reportedly met to discuss and share best practices related to online measures taken by governments and intermediaries to counter VERLT and their implications for fundamental human rights. Participants explored how the use of communications technologies can advance efforts to counter VERLT on the Internet.
