International human rights groups have condemned the Nauruan government’s recent attempts to criminalise political protest and censor web access, and urged it to lift restrictions.

Nauru recently introduced a new criminal offence that could see political opponents and asylum seekers who protest against their conditions jailed for up to seven years.

It also blocked access to Facebook and a number of other websites on the island, in what it described as a plan to stop “criminals and sexual perverts”.

A coalition of groups – including Access, Electronic Frontiers Australia, Human Rights Watch, GetUp, the Pacific Freedom Forum, Pen International and the Refugee Council of Australia – have signed an open letter urging the government to repeal the new offence and lift online restrictions.

The letter said: “Nauru is in danger of losing valuable opportunities for economic development. The internet fosters innovation and access to knowledge, facilitates the transfer of funds, goods, and services, and provides robust social, economic, and cultural opportunities. In censoring content and obstructing the free flow of information, the government will deprive its citizens of the benefits that the internet offers.”

The letter also drew attention to the impact on asylum seekers in the Australian-run detention facility on the island, who rely heavily on internet access on the island to contact people on Nauru and in Australia.

“Internet services, including Facebook and other social media, help them communicate with family in other locations, a critical issue for resettlement and for providing evidence to receive refugee status. Restrictions on access may prevent detained asylum seekers from communicating with advocates and legal representatives who are trying to help them.”

The letter comes after the United Nations special rapporteur for freedom of expression, David Kaye, also singled out Nauru for the new criminal offence, which he said “unduly restrict” freedom of expression on the island.

“These new laws could be used to muzzle dissenting opinions and deter human rights defenders, academics, journalists, students, politicians and civil society members,” he said.

“Nauru should allow free space for expression without fear of criminal prosecution,” Kaye said. “It should lift all restrictions to access internet and social media, and facilitate access to the media in the country.”

The Nauruan government has rejected what it says is “unfounded criticism” of the island and its affairs, and said the government was elected on a “platform of reform”.

Elaine Pearson, the director of Human Rights Watch Australia, said Australia needed to make it clear to Nauru that the restrictions were not acceptable.



“Introducing vague laws that criminalise peaceful acts of free expression will limit public discussion of sensitive topics, and prevent scrutiny of the conduct of Nauru institutions. Such scrutiny and criticism is a normal, healthy part of democracy,” Pearson said.

“Australia’s leaders like to talk about the importance of freedom of speech, now is their chance to make it very clear to Nauru that measures which chill free expression have no place in a democracy.”