Recent legislative amendments in Uzbekistan worrying, OSCE Representative says

VIENNA, 29 April 2016 – Recent amendments to anti-terrorism measures in Uzbekistan should not be used to limit journalists’ access to information, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today.

On 25 April, the President of Uzbekistan signed amendments to the country’s Criminal Code into law. The amendments include a blanket ban on the use of religion through the mass media and the Internet that seeks “to violate civil concord, dissemination of defamatory, destabilizing fabrications, and committing other acts aimed against the established rules of behaviour in society and public safety”, as well as materials “aimed at spreading panic among the population”.

“Anti-terror legislation should not use overly broad definitions to preclude a journalist from working on problematic issues of public interest,” Mijatović said.

“I recognize and fully respect the importance of any government’s legitimate security efforts and preventive measures. However all measures aiming to increase security must be accompanied by meaningful counterweights protecting human rights such as freedom of expression and media freedom,” she said.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.