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Alert

Government drops charges against blogger who posted Jesus cartoons

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has hailed a decision by the Singaporean authorities to drop all charges against a 21-year-old blogger who had been accused of violating the Sedition Act by posting cartoons of Jesus on his blog. The authorities said they let him off with a warning.

Posted in January 2006, the cartoons were removed from his blog in March when the authorities intervened and confiscated his computer. He had faced up to three years in prison and a fine of 5,000 Singaporean dollars (2,500 euros).

"We welcome this decision as the cartoons posed absolutely no threat to Singapore's 'social harmony' and posting them was clearly not grounds for imprisonment," Reporters Without Borders said. "But Singapore's media are closely controlled by the government and the Internet offers an alternative means of expression for its citizens, so we deplore the recent increase in the harassment of bloggers."

The organisation added: "Just two weeks ago, the government intervened to stop a blogger's column in the 'Today' newspaper. After these two cases, we hope Singapore's Internet users will not be intimidated and will continue to express their views online."

In the 2005 Reporters Without Borders classification of countries according to their respect for press freedom, Singapore was ranked 140th out of 167 countries.