From Cuba to India - world's absurd media laws

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published September 19, 2017 |  Sylvester Conception

With laws like these on the books, competition for the world’s worst media law is pretty stiff to determine.

An all-time favorite might be Article 72 of the Cuban Criminal Code, often called the law of ‘social dangerousness’. Under its provisions, Cuban authorities can detain anyone for up to four years relying solely on the belief that he or she is likely to commit a crime in the future.

This law has been used continuously to jail critical reporters. Police can even issue a warning, alerting a suspect that he or she is in danger of becoming dangerous.

Another doozy comes courtesy of Iran and is called mohareheh, generally translated as "waging war with god." This law has been used to jail journalists, writers, and poets who question the principles underlying the Islamic revolution. Earlier, Shiva Nazar Ahari, founder of the Committee for Human Rights Reporters in Iran, was convicted of mohareheh. The offense carries the death penalty, but Ahari was sentenced to 76 lashes, which was later commuted to a fine.

In Myanmar, a new contender for such dubious honor is Article 66(d) of the country’s Telecommunications Law. The single most appalling feature of the law is that anyone can file charges against everyone else for publishing something they don’t like online. Since most media is now online, journalists are prime targets. Ever make a nasty comment on Facebook? You could be charged in Myanmar. In practice, what the law means is powerful people and institutions in Myanmar can easily silence their critics.

Recently, Bangladeshi authorities arrested journalist Abdul Latif Morol on defamation charges after he allegedly made a derogatory post on Facebook about the fisheries minister that a goat given by the government in the morning dies in the evening, prompting Committee to Protect Journalists’ Asia program coordinator Steven Butler, to remark: "Jailing a journalist for reporting the death of a goat is beyond absurd," adding the Bangladeshi government “urgently heed its pledges to reform the law that makes such abuses of the justice system possible."

Not lagging behind is the world’s biggest democracy. Authorities in India are arbitrarily found to block the internet, and refrain from issuing regulations that give legal backing to frequent internet shutdowns in the country.

India's communication ministry earlier on August 7 issued a rule that allows the government to temporarily shut down internet and telecommunications services in the event of "a public emergency or public safety issues. However, the rule does not specify what the government considers a public emergency or a threat.

This new rule is a worrying sign India plans to continue arbitrarily shutting down the internet, a practice it needs to stop. Such blackouts amount to a severe form of censorship that deprives journalists of a key platform for gathering and disseminating news, and the country's citizens of vital access to news and information.

Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report

 April 30, 2025:  Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.

Dawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric

 April 30, 2025:  Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.

India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack

 April 28, 2025:  India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.

Coordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows

 April 23, 2025:  Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.

Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists after PTI expulsion

 April 21, 2025:  After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.

Journalist Sanaullah Khan alleges FIA blocking accounts of YouTubers and families

 April 21, 2025:  Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.

A launch in style: Dr. Nauman Niaz unveils 'In A Different Realm'

 April 20, 2025:  Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.

Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning

 April 11, 2025:  Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.