Website editor’s release welcomed, but call for repeal of 1967 press law still stands
Via Reporters sans Frontières.
Reporters Without Borders today welcomed the release of José de Arimatéia Azevedo, the editor and columnist of the Portal AZ website in Teresina (in the northeastern state Piauí), who was freed on the night of 28 October, 48 hours after a judge ordered his arrest on charges of insult, libel and trying to influence the course of justice.
But the press freedom organisation continued to call for the repeal of a press law dating back to the 1964-1985 military regime, under which Arimatéia was arrested.
“The decision of the Piauí state authorities to free Arimatéia is a victory for press freedom and civil liberties in general, and runs counter to the 1967 federal law making press offences punishable by prison terms,” Reporters Without Borders said.
“Although this repressive law is rarely used, it led to Arimatéia being arrested arbitrarily, and we hope this case will encourage the federal parliament to repeal it,” the organisation added.
posted by Fergie @ 10/31/2005 07:30:00 AM
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