19 March 2002

DRAFT MEDIA LAW CONTAINS "SERIOUS FLAWS"


A proposed media law currently being drafted in Afghanistan contains "serious flaws" which, if enacted, would have a harmful effect on freedom of expression, warns the International Press Institute (IPI). In a letter to the head of Afghanistan's interim government, Hamid Karzai, the group says the draft Law of the Press needs a "radical re-assessment" for a number of reasons. It allows only Afghani citizens to print publications, a restriction that would weaken the local media, IPI argues. It says a ban on foreign investment in Afghan media could leave local outlets too weak to withstand potential government pressure during the transition period and beyond.

IPI says the law also requires private media owners to obtain permission from the government to operate without stating the criteria for granting or denying such permission, and there is no provision which allows legal entities such as companies to enjoy private ownership. In addition, the law gives the government control over the distribution of foreign publications.

For more information, see www.freemedia.at.




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Also from the Communiqué, 19 March 2002

INTERNATIONAL: CJFE SPONSORS NEW JOURNALISM FELLOWSHIP 19 March 2002 INTERNATIONAL: WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS FOCUS ON TERRORISM 19 March 2002 ZIMBABWE: MUGABE SIGNS RESTRICTIVE MEDIA LAW 19 March 2002 CUBA: FREE EXPRESSION GROUPS CALL FOR JAILED JOURNALISTS' RELEASE 19 March 2002 BANGLADESH: 8 JOURNALISTS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS 19 March 2002 RWANDA: REPORTER MURDERED 19 March 2002 INTERNATIONAL: ITALIAN JOURNALIST KILLED; RSF URGES ADOPTION OF SAFETY CHARTER 19 March 2002

Afghanistan

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