[Attachment(s) from Isha Khan included below]
FREE EXPRESSION ALERT - Bangladesh INFO COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY ACT'S CONSTITUTIONALITY CHALLENGED
In a ruling important for human rights and free expression advocates, and for all those using the internet for communications, education and campaigning, the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh directed the Government to show cause why Sections 46 and 57 of the Information Communication Technology Act 2006 should not be declared ultra vires the Constitution, and in violation of fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association.
Section 46 allows for blocking of websites on various grounds, including if they involve incitement to any offence as defined under the Act. Section 57 provides penalties of a fine of upto one crore takas or ten years imprisonment, for various acts including those which involve any person ' reading/seeing /listening to any website or electronic communication and thereby being encouraged to become immoral ('nitibhroshto') or dishonest ('oshoth'), or the use of websites or electronic communications which 'hurt the image of the state'.
The petition was initially filed when the Govt had imposed a ban on Facebook in June 2010.
The Govt has four weeks to respond.
For further details, please see the attached press release.
Section 46 allows for blocking of websites on various grounds, including if they involve incitement to any offence as defined under the Act. Section 57 provides penalties of a fine of upto one crore takas or ten years imprisonment, for various acts including those which involve any person ' reading/seeing /listening to any website or electronic communication and thereby being encouraged to become immoral ('nitibhroshto') or dishonest ('oshoth'), or the use of websites or electronic communications which 'hurt the image of the state'.
The petition was initially filed when the Govt had imposed a ban on Facebook in June 2010.
The Govt has four weeks to respond.
For further details, please see the attached press release.
Also : http://www.newagebd.com/2010/jul/27/front.html
Attachment(s) from Isha Khan
1 of 1 File(s)
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