Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 28 /Trend, T.Hajiyev/
Azerbaijani media is not ready for adoption of the Law on defamation, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Social and Political Department Chief Ali Hasanov told Trend.
According to Hasanov, the adoption of this law exempts journalists from criminal responsibility, but retain the civil and administrative responsibility.
"Disrespect of Azerbaijani journalists to court decisions, increase in racketeering facts, intentional insult of honor and dignity of people, absence of serious attempts to improve the professionalism of the media and protect morals of media allow us to say that the Azerbaijani media is not ready to adoption of this law," said Hasanov.
He said there is still time for adoption of this law.
"Both media community and the Press Council is working in this regard. But the majority of media outlets in Azerbaijan still do not follow honor and dignity of people. In such circumstances, I personally consider it inappropriate to adopt the Law on defamation," said Hasanov.
The draft law was prepared in 2005 with the support of OSCE Office in Baku. According to international organizations, articles 147 and 148, envisaging criminal responsibility for libel and insult, should be excluded from the Criminal Code.