2LT International News

ALMATY, Tajikistan: Tajikistan has officially removed criminal liability for “liking” social media posts that the government deems extremist, a move that reverses a controversial law that has led to the imprisonment of over 1,500 people.

President Emomali Rakhmon signed the law this week, his press office announced, marking a significant shift in the country’s approach to online activity.

The decision comes after years of enforcement of amendments passed in 2018 that criminalized public justification of terrorism online. Authorities had prosecuted individuals for engaging with content labeled extremist, including videos and posts by opposition figures, with penalties reaching up to 15 years in prison for those found guilty.

Rakhmon, who has governed Tajikistan since 1994, publicly criticized the prosecutions last year, urging that they be halted, according to local media reports. The Central Asian nation, bordered by Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, has been dealing with a series of militant attacks in recent months, some involving individuals who claimed allegiance to Islamic State.

Despite the law’s revision, security concerns remain high in the country, where authorities continue to monitor online content closely amid ongoing threats of extremism.