Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr K. Zarbaliyeva / The number of complaints of slander in the media (defamation) has increased 10 -fold in the 1st half of 2007 compared to 2006.
The reports publicized by the Forum of Azerbaijani Lawyers (FAL) notes that in the 1st half of this year over 60 court cases were filed against the media. Azerbaijan's opposition newspapers - the Gundalik Azerbaijan, the Realny Azerbaijan, the Azadlyg, the Yeni Musavat, the 24 Saat, the Mukhalifat, and the Nota Bene were the main targets for complaints. The Azerbaijani courts sentenced 5 critic journalists to imprisonment in contravention of Article 147 (calumny) and Article 148 (offence) of the Criminal Code. One journalist was sentenced to community work. Wither and journalists Rafig Taghy and the Editor-in-Chief of the Sanat newspaper, Samir Sadagatoghlu, were found guilty of spreading religious hatred. They were fined over AZN 700,000.
All the court cases were filed due to publications regarding political persons, the activities of high-ranking officials and large corporations, management of public work as well as the articles on corruption in social and business fields and so on. While considering the cases, the courts did not assess the social value of the articles, their connectedness with social and political debates. In most cases court decisions regarded interference with freedom of speech. FAL is alarmed at the increase of complaints against journalists, and the misuse of international and national legislation by courts. FAL calls the Government to take into consideration the situation and to annul criminal responsibility for slander in order to restore freedom of speech, to adopt the Law on Defamation which might open a way for introduction of the European Court on Human Rights' standards.
Seven journalists were jailed in Azerbaijan for their professional activities.