DSA being used to intimidate journos, rights defenders: UN rights chief
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today expressed concerns over the misuse of Digital Security Act and called on Bangladesh to immediately suspend its application.
"I am concerned that the Digital Security Act is being used across Bangladesh to arrest, harass and intimidate journalists and human rights defenders, and to muzzle critical voices online," he said, according to a release issued in this regard.
"I call again on the authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on its use and to reform comprehensively its provisions to bring them in line with the requirements of international human rights law," Türk said, adding that his office provided detailed technical comments "to assist with such a revision."
Stating that more than 2,000 cases have been brought under the Act, the release mentions the cases against Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams, Editor Matiur Rahman, and a photographer.
"My office has consistently raised concerns about the overly broad and ill-defined provisions of the Digital Security Act," Türk said.
"The government has promised there will be safeguards against the arbitrary or excessive application of the law but that is not enough when arrests continue. The law itself needs a proper overhaul."
The high commissioner also called for the creation of an independent judicial panel to review all pending cases under the Digital Security Act with a view to those accused being released.
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