Following the reintroduction of criminal sanctions for defamation and insult in Niger, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Nigerien authorities to decriminalize defamation and ensure that the country’s cybercrime law does not impede the work of the media.
The new law reintroduces prison sentences of up to three years and fines up to $8,177 for defamation and insult, and similar punishments for disseminating data deemed to disturb public order or undermine human dignity. The CPJ has urged Niger to reform the law to protect freedom of expression and prevent its abuse to suppress journalism.
