Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



AFTE highlights the fine line between freedom of expression and incitement
Published in Daily News Egypt on 30 - 07 - 2013


By Nourhan Dakroury
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) released a report Tuesday distinguishing between what it called legitimate freedom of expression and hate speech tied to incitement of violence and racial discrimination.
The report noted that the lack of a "specific and clear definition for ‘hate speech' in international law" has led to "confusion between freedom of expression and hate speech."
"The difficulty in accurately defining the concept of hatred is because it could extend to public debates, which should not be restricted, such as discussions that address individuals' hate of police force in view of its torture of citizens, or that may lead to hatred of government because of corruption of its members," the report read.
It added that freedom of expression ends when discrimination begins dominating speech, turning it into "hate speech," according to Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The report defined discrimination as "any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference made on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, language, opinion, nationality, social class, property, birth, colour or any other factor which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or equal exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."
If the speech is not based on discriminatory grounds, it is not to be categorised as such and should not be prohibited, the report said, adding that if the speech does not incite violence, hostility or discrimination then it does not fall under the category of hate speech.
"International jurisprudence has generally agreed to three forms of incitement that constitute an exception to freedom of expression," AFTE's statement summarising the report said. "These are inciting violence, inciting hatred and hostility, and incitement of racial discrimination."
AFTE also noted a lack of consensus over how the state should deal with such cases.
According to the organisation, many believe it is important to criminalise incitement by restricting freedom of expression, whereas a second school of thought believes that only those who incite violence should be punished, on the grounds that inciting hostility, hate or discrimination should not be restricted if free speech is to be preserved.
A third popular viewpoint, AFTE said, sees all forms of incitement as "exceptions to freedom of expression," believing that the state should manage such transgressions on a case-by-case basis.
AFTE says it believes that inciting violence should be criminalised, while incitement of hostility or hate should be dealt with by the state in other ways, such as "civil compensation for the victims of incitement." This, they believe, would create a balance in the safeguarding of freedom of expression and rejecting hateful forms of expression.


Clic here to read the story from its source.