ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND), Dragutin Lucic, on Tuesday notified Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic of objections the association raised against the recently adopted
amendments to the penal code, which refer to liability for slander.
ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Journalists'
Association (HND), Dragutin Lucic, on Tuesday notified Justice
Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic of objections the association
raised against the recently adopted amendments to the penal code,
which refer to liability for slander. #L#
"The minister has said that this week she will brief the government
on our criticism and position that the current provision that makes
it easier for competent authorities to prosecute reporters for
slander should be changed," Lucic told Hina after the meeting in the
Justice Ministry.
He added that Minister Anticevic Marinovic left the possibility
open for the change to the contentious provision, but said it was up
to the government to decide on the matter.
"We agreed that slander should continue to be treated as a criminal
offence but should not be punished with a jail sentence," Lucic said
adding that the justice minister said that court practice had shown
that fines were regularly meted out for this kind of offence.
The HND leader added that agreement was reached that rulings
against reporters sued for slander would be published in the
press.
"Because of the government's principled stand, we shall continue
talks and inform the public of the outcome," Lucic said.
(hina) ms