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Afghan Paper Urges Amendment to Media Law

Posted on: Sunday, 17 July 2005, 09:00 CDT

Text of editorial titled: "The need to review the media law", published by Afghan daily newspaper Eslah on 16 July

At the request of journalists and media people at a recent seminar, a commission has been set up to review the media law. The commission consists of both independent journalists and those working for the state media.

The media law was previously formulated by media experts and legal professionals. But there was a wide range of complaints about its shortcomings and deficiencies.

Some of those running the press and newspaper wanted amendments to the law and believed that the law had certain imperfections and did not encompass all the principles and values required. It is evident that every law is acceptable within a specific period and loses its value in due course.

It is therefore deemed necessary to revise the law in such a way that it could address all the problems and concerns related to the mass media.

In addition, members of the review and scrutiny commission of the mass media are all independent media experts, with the exception of only two government delegates. This indicates that the government's role in the composition of the media commission is gradually diminished and freedom of expression is constantly flourishing in the country. The commission is now set up by experts from the private media sectors.

Source: BBC Monitoring South Asia

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