Hate speech

We all are concerned about our freedom of speech by article 39 of our constitution. We can say anything according to our wish. There is no boundary or range of this freedom of speech. But in article 39, there are few provisos which indicate us about where we can’t say with our freedom. Like security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, contempt of court, defamation, incitement to an offence. Above all are restricted or out of boundary where we can exercise our right to freedom of speech. Except those points, we can talk, write or anyhow express our opinion without any legal binding. Because of it’s our constitutional fundamental rights. But now a day’s hate speech also became a strong issue where we can’t exercise this right. I also agree with this. If one of my right affect any other one, that means either I or he doing something wrong. If anyone is doing something wrong or illegal, I have right to say something against him. But, if my statement or opinion is fully or partly disparaging to any single person or any quorum or any race etc, then my speech will called as hate speech which may influence any other offence. I wanna say that freedom of speech never try to cover hate speech in its range. Hate speech is one kind of speech with may be treated as incitement to an offence which strictly prohibited in mentioned article.

Mainly facebook and blogs are very popular in Bangladesh. There are huge amount of online activist in our country where most of the activists are young. Maximums are student or fresher in jobs. They think different and creative & express it in online because they have no opportunity to talk in television or press. In society they are establishing a very good effort from online. From collecting blood every social works are possible now in online. From that sense nobody can blame online activist as well as need to salute them. And one thing should mention that the lien holder of online activist are social worker who’s really wanna work for the society as like journalist or social worker. Society has no headache for them, rather they are hero for own society. But on the other hand, very few of the online activists just spoil the online field. They express they opinion not for any social advantage rather they attacked anybody personally or racially. When anybody attacked personally or racially, then it’s just provoked for him or his race. And final circumstances are very well known by us. Just few words can be the thread for our life, if those words are more or less as hate speech. Ya, I agree that any criminal offence as revenge also illegal and should be punished by statutory act. But, offender may be acquittal or get minor punishment on the ground of provocation.

For more fair I wanna refer article 32 of our constitution which is called right of life and personal liberty. You have right to life, now think if you kill someone; you must be punished by the statutory law. Punishment is life imprisonment or hanging although you have right to life and right to movement. You have right to life and right to movement, but for killing someone you are now either hanging or life imprisonment; because you misuse your right and killed someone who also had right to life. It means you have a right which should use in proper way and respect third parties rights. Now come to our point, you have right to freedom of speech. Remember that, our constitution is applicable throughout Bangladesh. So, every Bangladeshi has right to freedom of speech. Now, if you misuse it against someone else, he also can do that. A simple hate speech will become a quarrel then hurt, grievous hurt & murder also happening on its consequence. Hate speech is one kind of provocation. When any murder happened behind the consequence of sudden provocation (hate speech), then that will not treat as murder; it will be culpable homicide. Consequence, a hate speech can take your life but offender will not be murderer. Don’t know the law, its also crime. So, online activist should aware about the statutory laws. But, government also can specify about the provision relating with hate speech very boldly.

In subcontinent, freedom of speech term arises in British period for protest. For any kind of protest freedom of speech still working. But, hate speech never been a protest word. Hate speech completely opposite of protest as well as dark side of freedom of speech. For few hate speeches, now all the online activists are blamed. Bona fide activists are calling now by bad pronoun where mela fide activists are the only accused. Most of the hate speeches are written with intention from the very beginning. Attack any religion whatever major or minority, it’s nothing just an unsocial activism. Religion is very sensitive issue for every theist. If anybody attack there, anything is possible by him for revenge. Very unfortunately, few activist don’t have any other topic to write, only religion where they known about peoples sentiment. Very ridiculous matter is, few of the activists attack any ethnic major or minority group only for becoming famous in online like facebook celebrity. These new methods celebrity wanna prove them as free thinker. But, free think is not mean to attack any third party. It’s not called free thinking; its hate speech and entire society affected by those hate speeches.

Not only in online, should hate speech prohibit also in offline. But, online hate speeches is more dangerous than offline. In online, hate speeches spread very fast and can reach a big number of people. Numbers of victim also increase in online day by day. That’s why range of provocation also becomes wider. Finally society faces few unfair incidents from its consequence. So, it’s high time to practice actual freedom of speech and avoid hate speeches. Vanish your unsound mind as well as indulgence you sane mind and express it to entire society. Society will remember you era to era. You may be entered into the golden history for your suitable speech or in the darkest chapter of the history for own hate speech. Decision is your as well as destiny.

Tanvir Chowdhury

Tanvir921535513@gmail.com