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OSCE Mission concerned over prison sentence for Croatian journalist on libel charges
ZAGREB 11 February 2005
ZAGREB, 11 February 2005 - The OSCE Mission to Croatia has expressed concern at the latest decision by the Split County Court to uphold a prison sentence given to a Croatian journalist for libel.
Ljubica Letinic recently lost her appeal against a decision passed by the Split Municipal Court last July which sentenced her to a two-month suspended prison term for libel.
"This is a reminder that the revision of legislation is still necessary to ensure that journalists are not sent to prison for their work," said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Ambassador Peter Semneby.
"The possibility of prison sentences being imposed on journalists may have a chilling effect on the freedom of the media" he added.
In line with recommendations from the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Mission is again calling on the Government to fully decriminalise libel by removing it from the criminal code.
Libel and slander should instead by dealt with by civil procedure.
Ljubica Letinic recently lost her appeal against a decision passed by the Split Municipal Court last July which sentenced her to a two-month suspended prison term for libel.
"This is a reminder that the revision of legislation is still necessary to ensure that journalists are not sent to prison for their work," said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Ambassador Peter Semneby.
"The possibility of prison sentences being imposed on journalists may have a chilling effect on the freedom of the media" he added.
In line with recommendations from the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Mission is again calling on the Government to fully decriminalise libel by removing it from the criminal code.
Libel and slander should instead by dealt with by civil procedure.