ZAGREB, July 18 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee on Human Rights (HHO) sent an open letter to the prime minister, the president of parliament and chairmen of parliamentary benches on Friday, suggesting they initiate
reintroducing in the Penal Code erase as soon as possible the previous provision on slander.
ZAGREB, July 18 (Hina) - The Croatian Helsinki Committee on Human
Rights (HHO) sent an open letter to the prime minister, the
president of parliament and chairmen of parliamentary benches on
Friday, suggesting they initiate reintroducing in the Penal Code
erase as soon as possible the previous provision on slander. #L#
Under recent amendments to the Penal Code, journalists are no
longer exempt from slander charges.
The letter says even media law experts are advocating
decriminalising slander and insults or finding a solution
approximately like the one until recently contained in the Croatian
Penal Code.
According to the HHO, the latest change of the Penal Code
constitutes an "unnecessary and unacceptable restriction of
freedom of speech and press" which will prevent the media in Croatia
from doing their job of controlling and criticising.
The HHO says in the letter the latest change is in drastic contrast
to the principles of European experts in media law, and recalls that
not one journalist in Europe has been given a jail sentence for
decades.
The Penal Code provision under which journalists are no longer
exempt from liability for slander will primarily damage democracy
and media development in Croatia, as well as its international
reputation and interests.
(hina) ha