Sub-Amendment to Amendment No. 24 | Doc. 13160 | 22 April 2013

Post-monitoring dialogue with Turkey

Signatories: Mr Geraint DAVIES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jim HOOD, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr John PRESCOTT, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Linda RIORDAN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jim SHERIDAN, United Kingdom, SOC

Origin - 2013 - Second part-session

At the end of amendment 24, add the following words:

"as well as Article 125 of the Criminal Code which criminalizes defamation. The Assembly also calls for a review to the definitions of offences related to terrorism and membership of a criminal organization in law in line with the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights."

Explanatory note

The subamendment calls to repeal article 125 which criminalizes defamation (e.g. by journalists), punishable with prison sentences for criticism of politicians and other officials despite international standards that require public officials to withstand general public criticism.