The Iranian Parliament is considering a new law that provides for even harsher punishments for publishing false claims in a further setback for the country’s already battered freedom of speech.
The Iranian news portal Etemad has reported that the bill provides for penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines for anyone who makes a false statement that causes disorder and insecurity or harms individuals or their property.
It also provides for the payment of compensation for loss of life or damage to property and disqualification for up to ten years. The regulation would be a response to alleged provocative statements in the context of the recent wave of protests in the country, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths.
The demonstrations began in mid-September following the death of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for allegedly wearing the Islamic headscarf incorrectly. Numerous Iranian personalities have expressed their solidarity with the protests.
Human rights organizations have criticized criminal offenses currently in force such as «corruption on earth» or «war against Allah» as having been used to impose arbitrary sentences and even the death penalty. Four people have been executed since the beginning of the protests and the number of detainees is around 20,000.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
