Uzbekistan Puts Restrictions On Internet Posts

Uzbekistan has a new restrictions on what bloggers can post online, prohibiting content that could be perceived as "defaming the honor and dignity" of individual citizens.

President Islam Karimov signed a law on September 5 that obliges bloggers to "check the accuracy" of information before publishing it and to remove the piece if proved to be unreliable.

The text bans any posts deemed to back the overthrow of the state or spreading religious extremism, and warns authors against promoting drug use or pornography.

Karimov has been in power since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The government is often criticized for tightly controlling society, tolerating no dissent, and of regularly committing human rights abuses against its citizens.

Uzbek officials also excercise control over the country's media outlets.

Based on reporting by AFP and RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service