OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media concerned about blocking of website in Tajikistan

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today about Tajikistan’s Supreme Court ruling to block access to the Akhbor.com news site in the country on the grounds of providing a platform to “terrorist and extremist organizations”.

“ I am concerned by the restriction of access to the Akhbor news site  from the territory of Tajikistan,” Désir said. “ The ongoing blocking of an online news resource is a severe restriction on the freedom of expression, which goes far beyond the request to take down specific content. I recall the importance of taking into account the principle of proportionality in any decision affecting media freedom.”

The Supreme Court blocked access to Akhbor.com in Tajikistan starting 19 March. Human rights advocates reported that the Akhbor site, based in Prague, the Czech Republic, had been blocked for at least two years. The Court argued that the site provided access to the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, the National Alliance of Tajikistan and others, which are considered extremist and terrorist organizations in the country.