24 year old Tabrez Ansari, tied up to the street light pole and beaten to death in Jharkhand. Police also complicit in the death by putting wounded Tabrez inside the cell, without medical help on time.
How hate speech sparks hate crimes in India Black’s Law Dictionary, (9th Edition) defines the expression ‘hate speech’ as “Speech that carries no meaning other than the expression of hatred for some group, such as a particular race, especially in circumstances in which the communication is likely to provoke violence.”
Democracy thrives on disagreements provided they do not cross the boundaries of civil discourse. Critical and dissenting voices are important for a vibrant society. However, care must be taken to prevent public discourse from becoming a tool to promote speech inimical to the right to a life or dignity of weaker and marginalized In India, hate speech plays a key role sections, speech that promotes hatred in instigating hate crimes. These are against a section. Responsible speech is crimes committed against members of the essence of the liberty granted under specific communities who are singled Article 21 of the Constitution. out and targeted with the intention of intimidating them. Usually hate speech One of the greatest challenges before the is replete with communal slurs often principle of autonomy and free speech related to stereotypes associated with principle is to ensure that this liberty is the community being targeted. Though not exercised to the detriment of any hate speech has been around for a long individual or the disadvantaged section time,1 it has become more frequent since of the society. In a country like India, with May 2014, and is used as a tool to incite diverse castes, religions and languages, hatred, violence, animosity, particularly this issue poses a greater challenge.3 towards minority communities with the aim to establish dominance of the majority.2
HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA - Status Report 2021 by IAMC
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