SECTOR 1 1.3 There are no laws or parts of laws restricting freedom of expression such as excessive official secrets or libel acts, or laws that unreasonably interfere with the responsibilities of media. Article 68 of Law no. 2004-643, pertaining to the media, “rules out imprisonment for media offenses”. Media offences are seen to be: offenses against law and order, offenses against people and goods, offenses against the Head of State and foreign diplomats, publishing banned publications and offenses against institutions and their members. Meanwhile, article 69 of this law passed in 2004 prescribes that articles 174 and 175 of the penal code make provision to sanction “anyone who through media: - - incites to theft and plundering, beatings and wilful injuries and murder, to fires and the destruction by whatever means of public and private property, to all forms of physical and psychological violence committed towards people as well as their property or condones such crimes and offences; incites xenophobia, tribal violence, religious hatred, racial hatred and hate in any form; denies war crimes or collaborates with the enemy incites the military and armed forces to insubordination and rebellion; threatens the integrity of the national territory, internal and external security of the State.” Overall, the panellists believe that Law no. 2004-653 of December 2004 is “a law of quality” given that it ensures the decriminalisation of media offenses. Certain articles of the Penal Code, however, open a gap for magistrates to interprete and condemn journalists, particularly for matters relating to national security. Even if, for example, information is accurate and can affect national defence, the author of such information can be punished. A panellist gave the example of a journalist who was arrested for stolen goods on the basis of the Penal Code because he made deliberations held by the Constitutional Council public before their publication. 72 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER COTE D’IVOIRE 2012