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LoginInternational Day for Countering Hate Speech/ Global Call Promoting Tolerance in Digital Spaces
Doha, June 17 (QNA) - Every year on June 18, the world celebrates the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, with the aim of raising awareness of the dangers of hate speech and its negative effects on various societies, and the need to mobilize international efforts to confront it and consolidate the values of respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among peoples and cultures.
The commemoration of this international occasion comes amid escalating challenges concerning the spread of hate speech across digital spaces and social media platforms, accompanied by the spread of misinformation, incitement, and discrimination targeting individuals or groups based on religion, race, origin, language, cultural affiliation, or other human identities. The United Nations has warned that hate speech has become an increasing threat to social peace, community cohesion, and global stability, especially with the rapid development of digital technology and artificial intelligence.
This year's events focus particularly on the role of media and informational literacy in countering hate speech in the digital age. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the release of an issue brief under the title "Media and Information Literacy: Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age" to coincide with the occasion, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and digital literacy to reduce the spread the hate online.
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) affirms that the strategy for this international day is based on the the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech - launched in 2019, in response to growing international concerns about the widespread dissemination of such speech around the globe.
The United Nations defines hate speech as any form of verbal, written, or behavioral communication that attacks or uses discriminatory or derogatory language towards a person or group based on their identity, religious, ethnic, national, cultural, or other personal characteristics.
The UN emphasizes that this type of speech is not limited to verbal abuse, but can create fertile ground for discrimination, violence, conflicts, and human rights violations. Hate speech is often an early indicator of escalating social tensions and conflicts, and may even precede mass violence and serious crimes against humanity, making combating it an essential part of efforts to prevent conflicts and promote international peace and security.
In this context, the UN affirms that confronting hate speech does not mean restricting freedom of expression, but rather requires finding a delicate balance between protecting fundamental rights and freedoms and preventing incitement to discrimination, violence and hatred. It also calls for strengthening legislation and public policies that protect targeted groups, and developing mechanisms for monitoring, awareness and digital education.
The UN and experts in the fields of education and training emphasize that addressing hate speech is a shared responsibility, requiring concerted efforts from governments, educational institutions, media, technology companies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders, along with individuals themselves, in order to build more inclusive, tolerant and respectful societies that value human diversity.
Regarding the most prominent social and security risks that may result from the spread of hate speech in contemporary societies, HE Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID), Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi told Qatar News Agency (QNA) in exclusive statements, that hate speech is a malignant and pathological phenomenon that threatens to ruin and destroy societies once it spreads in them.
In our contemporary societies, hate speech is no longer viewed as it was in the past, with the spread of social media and the dominance of digital life over thoughts and minds, he added.
Dr. Al Nuaimi also said that the DICID is concerned with with combating the phenomenon of Islamophobia in the west and limiting its spread, by organizing seminars and addressing the relevant authorities and decision-makers to take action and help to prevent harm.
Regarding the extent to which digital transformations contribute to accelerating the spread of hate speech and misinformation across borders, HE Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi said that anyone who reflects on the history of human communication and its current development, with the enormous digital transformations that are being witnessed, most notably AI, realizes the unprecedented human turning point that certainly carries many positive aspects in the means of intellectual communication, the convergence of cultures, and the decline, or even disappearance, of barriers of isolation and exclusion.
HE Chairman indicated that this makes knowledge a universal human right, and although this is supposed to strengthen the bonds of understanding and facilitate coexistence and the achievement of human fraternity, reality warns of a danger that may destroy all of the above. The digital space can turn from a space for getting to know each other and reducing the intensity of differences into a dangerous hotbed for igniting conflicts, spreading lies, misinformation and polarization, and a renewable fuel for spreading hate speech and incitement against the other.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Nuami said that the directed media found in the amazing and rapid digital transformations a great opportunity to expand its scope of work from being a means of conveying information with neutrality and impartiality to arenas of debate and conflict between different visions in which all verbal tools are used for incitement and exclusion.
He stressed that the right to freedom of opinion and expression is an essential foundation for the progress and prosperity of societies and a necessity that must be preserved and protected as one of the most important human rights established by international conventions and national legislation. However, he added that with the digital and knowledge-based fluidity that the world is witnessing now, many are using the right to freedom of opinion as a pretext to spread misleading ideas and lies, and the most dangerous of these is spreading hate speech.
HE Chairman commended the State of Qatar’s efforts in combating hate speech, emphasizing that Qatar always seeks peace and harmony among its citizens and residents, as well as global peace for all the peoples of the earth, and has notable contributions and roles in this regard, whether through its initiatives in the field of dialogue and communication between all parties, especially conflicting parties, and between followers of different cultures and religions. It always plays a positive role in mediating to resolve conflicts.
Dr. Al Nuaimi pointed out that the second pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030, which relates to social development, emphasizes that the State of Qatar works to promote the spirit of tolerance and benevolence, encourage constructive dialogue, and sponsor and support dialogue of civilizations and coexistence between different religions and cultures in accordance with its Arab and Islamic identity.
Concluding his statement to QNA, His Excellency stated that at the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, the focus in all its conferences is always on how to confront hate speech and on raising the topics and issues related to it. The topics include peaceful religious values, respect for life, spiritual values, world peace, spiritual and intellectual security in light of religious teachings and human rights. The center dedicated its entire 14th conference to discussing ways to confront hate speech. It also dedicated an independent academic issue of the journal it publishes, "Adyan Journal," which is an international peer-reviewed journal published in Arabic and English, to discuss the issue of hate speech.
Regarding Islam's view on hate speech, Hussein Al Yafei, an educational expert and advisor at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, affirmed that Islam rejects hate speech and incitement because they threaten social and global peace and contradict moral values. He emphasized that among the most important principles Islam advocates in dealing with others are respect for human dignity, justice, constructive dialogue, and fostering mutual understanding among peoples and cultures.
In exclusive remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Yafei stated that Islam teaches that differences among people are a universal reality and should not be a cause of conflict and hatred, but rather a gateway to mutual understanding between nations. He noted that religious institutions such as mosques, schools, and cultural centers play a pivotal role in building public awareness and reinforcing a system of moral values that protects individuals from extremism and hatred.
He added that it is essential to strengthen moderate religious discourse capable of confronting extremist ideologies and inflammatory rhetoric. This can be achieved by presenting values-based content grounded in shared principles and communicated in a language that resonates with young people, while also utilizing these digital platforms to promote positive values. Furthermore, critical thinking skills must be enhanced so that individuals can distinguish between ideas that foster cooperation and human solidarity and those that incite hatred among communities.
For his part, Dr. Moaz Ben Massoud, Professor of Media and Communication in the Department of Mass Communication at the College of Arts and Sciences at Qatar University, stated that traditional and digital media can play a dual role in addressing hate speech. On one hand, they are powerful tools for promoting responsible discourse and tolerance by respecting legislation that combats all forms of violence and hatred, contributing to the development of community oversight mechanisms, and establishing codes of conduct and professional ethics that encourage objectivity and discourage incitement. On the other hand, in the absence of appropriate safeguards, traditional and digital media can become instruments for amplifying divisions or spreading hatred, particularly during times of political or sectarian conflict.
Regarding the use of media and information literacy to curb the spread of hate speech, he explained that media and information literacy is a fundamental pillar in combating hate speech in the digital space. It not only empowers individuals to verify information and understand context, but also strengthens their ability to think critically before sharing content. Therefore, educational authorities around the world have a responsibility to integrate media and information literacy into school curricula, fostering early awareness among young people of the importance of questioning information sources in digital environments and distinguishing between reliable and misleading news, as well as inflammatory content.
Strengthening these skills contributes to building a safer digital environment based on respect and tolerance, reinforcing the role of media and information literacy as a tool for protecting society from the dangers of hate speech, misinformation, and incitement.
Dr. Moaz Ben Massoud emphasized that social media platforms bear direct responsibility for limiting the spread of hate speech and discrimination, particularly given that current measures remain insufficient due to a lack of transparency in algorithms, differences in legislation among countries, and the absence of effective and independent oversight mechanisms.
He called for stricter global regulation and the establishment of independent bodies in different countries capable of holding platforms legally accountable when they allow the dissemination of harmful content that may create fertile ground for extremist rhetoric, undermine the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of communities, and threaten human dignity.
Dr. Moaz Ben Massoud concluded that some of the most important practical steps for building more tolerant and cohesive societies in the face of current digital challenges include incorporating educational curricula on the responsible use of technology from an early age, training young people in critical thinking to combat misinformation and hate speech, facilitating the exchange of expertise among media institutions and international organizations, and encouraging media outlets and influencers to disseminate positive messages that promote the values of tolerance.
He added that national governments also play a crucial role by enacting laws that protect individuals from cyberbullying and hate speech, requiring technology and artificial intelligence companies to be more transparent in their content moderation practices and algorithms, launching digital awareness campaigns that promote respect for diversity and differences, supporting youth-led initiatives that foster a culture of tolerance online, and developing tools that help users easily verify information. Such measures can help eliminate the roots of hatred and ensure social cohesion and peace.
As the International Day for Countering Hate Speech is observed, global calls are being renewed to strengthen dialogue among cultures and religions, reinforce the values of mutual respect, combat misinformation and incitement, and contribute to building safe, cohesive societies capable of addressing shared challenges while safeguarding the dignity of all people. (QNA)
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