Sun Media: Defamation bill now obstructs free journalism

Chief Executive Officer of Sun Media, Sinaan Ali has said that the bill of Anti-Defamation and Freedom of Speech currently at the Parliament obstructs the free journalism and needs major amendments.

Speaking at the 11-member committee researching the bill this morning, Sinaan said that he supports the purpose of the bill, which is to bring an end to defamation. And he said that defamation should not exist in a free media.

Opposing the bill, the CEO of Sun Media raised concerns over specific Articles of the bill. He said that as the bill stands, only “praise and tributes” are allowed in journalism by law.

Sinaan said that there are chapters in the bill that constricts criticism including Article 11-A which gives defamation a very broad definition and even a gesture can become defamatory along with direct and indirect speech could result in being an offence.

Referring to Article 11-C of the Anti-Defamation bill, Sinaan said that the perspective of a third person could also criminalize an act or text as defamation.

The CEO of Sun Media proposed that the definition of defamation needs to have a more defined explanation. He said that a solution can be found to everything in the bill through the existing laws aside from the fines and prison sentences.

Member of the Media Council and Sun Media employees, Ahmed Amir (Faress Amir) also spoke at the meeting today and said that a person’s dignity cannot be valued.

The Deputy Editor of Sun Online, Hussain Hassan said that in order to maintain free journalism in the Anti-defamation bill, more defences need to be built. He proposed to include the Article 19 of the existing law regarding the return of defamation to be included in the new bill.