Azerbaijani MP says defamation bill covers interests of all layers of society

Not discussing the bill in public will cause serious problems. The bill covers interest of all layers of the society, Ganira Pashayeva, Azerbaijani MP and member of a working group on development of bill on defamation, said

The discussions should focus on study of public opinion regarding the provisions of the bill, Pashayeva added.

It is necessary to study the public opinion on the issue when a journalist is not made answerable for libel, but bear criminal responsibility only paying fine, Pashayeva added.

The consideration of the bill may appear on agenda of the parliament only after studying public attitudes, Pashayeva said.

"As you know the removal of the death penalty in Azerbaijan caused serious discussions. Some thought that the abolition of the death penalty would increase the number of grave crimes, though others said these issues were not interrelated. Only after broad discussions it was possible to repeal the death penalty in the country, Pashayeva said.

The public debate on the bill on defamation is of no less importance, Pashayev added

"After adopting this law, a person libeled by journalist may consider the punishment as insufficient and punish journalist by own means. We must prevent such problems to emerge," Pashayeva said.

All journalist associations dealing with issues of journalism should take an active part in the public discussions, Pashayeva said.

/Trend News/