Hate and hate speech psychologically develops in the hearts of those who are fearful of others and is vocalized through words of mouth emanating from some sort of myth and rage. Hate speech mongers are the first who usually suffer from the effects of their own speeches as it would eat up into their cells and nerves with a hysteria brought in through socio-psychological nihilism.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that “any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law”. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) prohibits all incitement to racism.
Hate and other types of dangerous speeches both off line and online have become serious and growing problem in Ethiopia. It has contributed to the growing ethnic tensions and conflicts across the country.
Over several years, speeches by government officials, activists and others in Ethiopia have been disseminated quickly through social media and had in many cases triggered rancor or fueled violent conflicts.
Although Ethiopian government should be commended for deciding to curb hate speech in every form, this should be conducted by establishing a proper legal balance between constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of speech and punishing hate speech. I hope the new proclamation on hate speech and disinformation prevention and suppression serves this very purpose
Along with the fight against hate speech, the public needs new platforms and opportunities to express their grievances and discuss critical issues, beyond social media. The growing list of independent media outlets, office of the Ombudsman as well as universities, civil society organizations, political parties, and others could provide helpful environments for such discussions.
Ethiopia has issued its civil society law and anti-terrorism law – both of which were used in the past to stifle dissent and limit freedom of expression. What are the basic causes for the inception of hate speech in Ethiopia?
Hate and hate speeches spring from a social psychology of prejudices, stereotypes, categorization, biases, labeling and brainwashing and framing. The “us” and “them” divisive outlook among the peoples of Ethiopia as one of the causes of the social origin of hate speech. Irrational thinking and uncontrolled emotions, anger and extreme emotionalism and negativity characterize hate speech.
A prominent scholar in psychology at Addis Ababa University once mentioned economic reason for escalation of hate speech in Ethiopia. “The competition among communities of people on scarce resources in border areas for instance tends to trigger hate and hate speech among members of different communities and peoples.”
Hate speech, according to this scholar, is systematically organized for manipulative purposes of seeking maximum political backing for the dissemination of divisive and negatively self-assertive motives.
The psychology professor also suggests some solutions to the proliferation of hate and hate speech. He noted “The government and all media outlets need to proactively disseminate verified information to the public before the social media as frequently as possible. The government should also come up with media policy and law as a means of checking hate speech. Checks and balances should be maintained in disseminating information to the public.”
As mentioned earlier it is very important to make the necessary balance between constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and outright hate speech.
A number of developed countries like France, the UK and the US are grappling with the actual consequences of hate speech. Recently the EU has vowed to come up with a very strong law to effectively curb hate speeches of all kinds, be it on or off line.
In order to minimize hate, it is also very important to address that basic needs of the public with due consideration to equity in delivery of services and addressing the basic needs of the youth in particular.
Some think that the present law on hate speech is deliberately prepared to silence and even create a stop gap on the freedom of speech but the right of expression is already provided in article 29 of the Constitution and the law on hate speech and misinformation was duly enacted with due regard to this constitutional provision.
Hate speech, anywhere and at any time is quite divisive and could have permanent effects on the livelihood of the peoples of Ethiopia. It is anti-democratic in the sense that it could lead to public strife and social crisis from which nobody would benefit. Thus the law becomes imperative at a time when some media outlets in this country appear to have been infested with hate speeches, misinformation and biases.
The Ethiopian Herald Friday, February 21/2020
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
