AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has warned that hate speech, including Islamophobia, anti-migrant sentiment, and gender-based hate, has been increasing in Germany, placing the country at a critical juncture with regard to freedom of expression.
Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, said on Friday at a press conference in Berlin, at the conclusion of her official visit to Germany, that, “Islamophobia and hatred against migrants are on the rise, and some political movements with racist and authoritarian roots are exploiting freedom of expression to marginalize and intimidate minorities.”
Referring to her discussions with Palestine solidarity activists, students, and members of minority communities, Khan said many told her that hate-driven attacks, particularly on social media, have made them fearful of expressing their views both online and in public.
While acknowledging that the German government is justified in paying attention to the threats posed by hate speech, Khan said some countermeasures “are not consistent with international human rights standards,” and have contributed to confusion over the boundary between permissible and prohibited speech, leading to self-censorship and stigmatization.
She said the use of counterterrorism laws to restrict advocacy for Palestinian rights is among the main concerns in Germany, contributing to reduced public participation and the narrowing of academic and artistic spaces. Khan also warned about bans on certain slogans at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, saying that in some areas, “the balance has not been properly struck.”
The UN special rapporteur stressed that hate speech that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence must be prohibited under international law, but that speech that is “lawful but offensive” should be addressed through education, awareness-raising, and dialogue, rather than censorship or criminalization.
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