China’s ‘Anti-Terrorism Law’ Might Pass This Month; Will Control Media Coverage of Terrorist Attacks

First draft of the anti-terrorism law is being reviewed by the lawmakers in China. The law may restrict and toughen the regulations around media.

According to Xinhua News, the draft is already at the third reading at the constant bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. There is one noticeable change in the draft of the law, the definition of "terrorism". The new draft explains the meaning of terrorism, any proposition or activity -- that, by means of violence, sabotage or threat, generates social panic, undermines public security, infringes personal and property rights, and menaces government organs and international organizations. The new definition came from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) counterterrorism convention and the UN's Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism.

China Daily said, the previous draft which was submitted in February, did not cover the personal and property rights or political and ideological purpose. The new draft states that the country opposes all extremism that is looking for starting hate, provoke discrimination and promote violence by manipulating religious doctrines and other means, and acts to eliminate the ideological foundation for terrorism. It added in a separate clause that no institutions or individuals shall construct and distribute information on forged terrorist events, report on or disseminate details of terrorist activities that might lead to imitation, nor publish scenes of cruelty and inhumanity in terrorist activities.

Reuters reported that the law's new draft also includes a provision that media and social media cannot report on details of terror activities that might lead to replication, nor illustrate scenes that are "cruel and inhuman". Details of hostages, how authorities have reacted to terror incidents or private details of those on the scene cannot be reported too. All the reports have to be approved by counter-terrorism authorities.

This is China's most recent effort to tackle terrorism at home and assist preserving the world security. Chinese state-run media already operates under severe controls when it comes to reporting on terrorism, and the government tolerates no challenge to its official accounts of attacks or other incidents. 

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anti-terrorism law, China, National People's Congress, Terrorism, extremism, peace and order, Law

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