Human and Minority Rights Minister Demands Continual Campaign for Combating Hate Speech

Tomislav Zigmanov (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

It was necessary for Serbia to continually campaign for countering hate speech as it was a dangerous social deviance of the modern times, Tomislav Zigmanov, minister of human and minority rights and social dialogue, said on June 18.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, marked on June 18, Zigmanov said that freedom of expression was a fundamental and universal human right, but that the exercise of these rights carried certain duties and responsibilities and were subject to restrictions regarding respect of the rights and interests of others.

“Hate speech ignites bias, spreads hostilities and discrimination, often calls for violence and sends across messages promoting bigotry and intolerance. It advocates activities against individuals or groups based on their personal or assumed characteristics, and increasingly based on different political affiliation or ideological beliefs,” the minister said.