![hate speech hate speech](https://mykhilafah.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hate-speech.jpg)
It may just be the American in me speaking, but I happen to think that more flexibility at the local level is a good thing. When you are in the business of enforcing speech codes, the narrower the scope the better.Īnother criticism of the law is that it “lacks teeth.” The law simply tells each municipality to come up with its own policies and lacks any strong enforcement mechanism. However, the hateful speech the law seeks to curb was not really focused on either of those groups. Some are critical of the fact that the law does not also specifically include asylum seekers and illegal residents (visa overstayers, undocumented immigrants, etc). For this reason I think it is good that the law passed by the Diet is quite specific about who it seeks to protect. Governments have been known to use vague laws for unintended purposes, and in the case of a speech law this could lead to censorship. Many people are ambivalent about hate speech laws because they are often broadly written. To that end, even a symbolic law is enough to send a message.
![hate speech hate speech](https://i.etsystatic.com/11651821/r/il/f05c3d/1892439313/il_794xN.1892439313_qxai.jpg)
The goal is to reduce the likelihood of future ugly incidents. It therefore seems prudent to look at the law from a more practical perspective.
Hate speech free#
Japan has a very different history around issues like free speech and race. What need is there for a law criminalizing the expression of certain views?īut of course, we are not talking about America. But as happened in that particular case, the police were and remain able to intervene. Certainly, Zaitokukai anti-Korean protests have included some ugly incidents, including using a loudspeaker to disrupt lessons at a Korean school. There are already laws on the books against harassment and threats of violence. It strikes me that free speech needs to include hate speech if the concept is to have meaning. The law is written specifically to protect legal residents of overseas origin and their descendants.Īs an American, my instinct is to protest such laws. The bill passed by the Diet condemns this language and empowers municipalities to take steps to address the problem, ideally through education and mediation. Anti-Korean rallies from groups like Zaitokukai have been known to include threats to “wipe out” Koreans in Japan, as well as other hateful language. There had been mounting concern over the treatment of foreigners and minorities in Japan, particularly ethnic Koreans in recent years. That means clearly defining the circumstances in which certain types of “hate speech” can or must be limited, and ensuring those measures are only used exceptionally, and as a last resort.On May 24, the Diet passed Japan's first ever anti-hate speech law. Broadly framed “hate speech” laws are also frequently misapplied to target minority and dissenting expression.ĪRTICLE 19 advocates for States to engage in a range of law and policy measures to counter “hate speech” with more speech, seeking to maximise inclusivity, diversity and pluralism in public discourse. While international human rights law requires States to prohibit the most severe forms of “hate speech”, censorship is rarely an effective means of tackling its root-causes. Whether promulgated by politicians or spread by media outlets or online, “hate speech” can create environments conducive to violence and other human rights violations against minority groups. It is a tool often used to silence and intimidate minorities, and to scapegoat whole groups in society while stifling dissent. “Hate speech”, as a form of discriminatory expression, is a serious human rights concern. Removing discriminatory barriers so that all people can speak out and be heard, and ensuring that no one is censored on the basis of who they are, is central securing the right to freedom of expression. Hate and discrimination present increasing challenges to ensuring that all people are able to enjoy their right to freedom of expression, and other human rights, equally.