The slick senate

The press is excited about how the education and media committee of the senate has recommended removal of jail penalties for four additional offences added by the lower house to the proposed press and publications law. The proposed new law had added new offenses that can land a journalist in jail. These are (1) publishing anything that would lead to degrading, libeling or belittling any of the religions afforded freedoms in the constitution, (2) insulting or maligning any of the fathers of the monotheistic religions by writing, drawing, photography (?) or any other method, (3) what can be construed as insulting the feeling or religious belief or inciting sectarian or racial hatred, (4) maligning the dignity of individuals and their personal freedom or publishing false information or rumors about them. The meanings of many of these terms are open to interpretation, which was meant to chill the drive for more press freedoms.

To make sure this sticks, the parliament also listed similar offenses in the modified penal code, as well as “offending the dignity of the state”, equating many of these offenses to terrorism.

Now, the senate gesture is practically useless. It still allows for the jailing of journalists under the 23 other laws that constrict freedom of expression. Added to that, the senate legal committee approved the controversial changes to the penal code.

While commentators are favorably comparing the senate with the lower house, I would grant that they are slicker than the lower house. As for the press being happy with this, I would use the term pathetic.