Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has signed a law removing criminal penalties for social media likes. The presidential press service announced the news.
“The Law of the Republic of Tajikistan ‘On Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Tajikistan’ abolishes criminal liability for posting a like or other similar reaction on social networks,” the statement reads.
The amendments affect two articles of the criminal code concerning punishment for public incitement to terrorism and the justification of terrorism online. Since 2018, these provisions have encompassed likes and reposts, punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
In Spring 2024, President Rahmon criticized law enforcement agencies for the overly broad application of these norms. He called for an end to this practice, stating that “people cannot be punished solely for online activity.”
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Tajikistan, over 1500 individuals are currently serving sentences for online comments and reactions.