Deputies adopt bill on book activities, market

The deputies of the National People's Assembly (Lower House) adopted Monday, by the majority, the bill on book activities and market after approving the amendments introduced to the bill text.

234 MPs attended the voting session. Out of the 40 amendments proposed by the deputies, 11 were approved by the Committee on Culture, Communication and Tourism.

The committee approved to handle the concerns regarding 5 amendments, while 8 proposals were withdrawn by their authors.

The amendments concerned 17 points, including the religious, school, digital and digitized book, the library, the bookseller, public reading.

The bill stipulates that "publishing, printing and marketing of book are carried out in compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic, Islam and other religions, sovereignty and national unity, the requirements of security and national defense, the demands of public order, the dignity of human being and the individual and collective freedoms.”

"The book does not make an apology of colonialism, terrorism, crime and racism. The book for children and adolescents should include no writing or any kind of illustration that may jeopardize their health, morality and sensitivity," said the bill.

The bill on book activities and market is expected to be adopted by the Upper House of Parliament before its entry into force.