Rapporteur: Ecuadorian Penal Code “Threatens Freedom Of Expression And The Right To Information”

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ruled yesterday via newsletter, from its headquarters in Washington, and reported that three recent cases show that Ecuador departs from the Inter-American standards of freedom of expression.

This organization is concerned about the criminal laws of contempt applied in the country against those who publicly express their criticism to the “presidents.” Coincidentally, at all events, the alleged victim is the Ecuadorian president, Rafael Correa.

A civil lawsuit is the first action that Correa took against journalists Correa Juan Carlos Calderon and Christian Zurita, authors of the book called The Big Brother, which describes contracts between Fabricio Correa, the president’s brother, and the Ecuadorian State. It was requested $ 10 million in this case.

There is also a libel lawsuit from Correa against three directors and the opinion editor of El Universo Newspaper, because of the publication of an article under the title “No to lies ‘. Correa called for $ 80 million in compensation and incarceration against the four defendants.

The third is the criminal trial announced by the head of state against the citizen Sovenis Luis Marcos for having shouted him fascist.

The Rapporteur questioned against honor crimes contained in the Ecuadorian Criminal Code, as “an attack against freedom of expression and the right to information.

The unrest comes in the wake of the arrests of Irma Parra, because she made an alleged obscene gesture at him and said No referring to the coming referendum in the country, and Ponce Edison because he insulted the president.

Source: El Universo Newspaper