BEIJING: Legal experts are concerned about proposed changes to a Chinese people security law that would make it illegal to use remarks, clothing, or images that” undermine the soul” or” harm the emotions” of the nation.
Concerns about President Xi Jinping’s increasingly authoritarian and political concept led to the changes being made public for the first time last week as part of a required” soliciting mind” process.
Many legal experts and bloggers called for the removal of specific articles from the draft in editorials and social media posts this week.
Around 39, 000 people have already done so on the National People’s Congress( NPC ) website, where the academics and commentators also urged citizens to offer their opinions about the draft.
Who, and in what manner, confirms the” nature of the Foreign nation”? Who acknowledges the” thoughts of the Chinese state” and in accordance with what rules? On his Weibo social media account, legal reports researcher Tong Zhiwei from the East China University of Political Science and Law wrote.
Tong continued,” If the NPC Standing Committee adopts this article as it is currently written, law enforcement and criminal job may ultimately result in the practical repercussions of arresting and convicting people in accordance with the chief’s can, and there will be endless hurt.”
The Standing Committee of Parliament did not respond right away to a request for comment.
Many people expressed their concerns that the revisions might result in increased repression on Chinese social media.
One person on Weibo wrote,” Now they may prevent you from wearing specific clothes, tomorrow from speaking, and then the day after that from thinking.”
Without providing any further information, the Global Times news reported that the 2005″ Public Security Administration Punishment Law,” which primarily deals with small offenses, is being updated to better reflect the state of society today.