The National Security Chancellery held an extensive meeting to discuss the basics of the strategy to combat hate speech.
The chancellery stated in its statement: “As part of the direction of the government of Prime Minister Mohamed al-Sudani, and in accordance with its governmental program, the National Security chancellery held today, Wednesday, an expanded meeting, to discuss the basics of the strategy to combat hate speech, headed by National Security Adviser Qassem Al-Araji, and in the presence of a number of representatives of the components, Iraqi academics, professors of Iraqi universities, and influencers in societal circles, including researchers, tribal sheikhs, institutions concerned with combating hate speech, and advisors to the prime minister's office.
Al-Araji stressed, in a speech during the meeting: "Hate speech is one of the dilemmas that societies suffer from, and that tolerance and acceptance of the other is the true basis for building societies and strengthening their cohesion," noting that "the family is the first concerned with reforming its members, so the reconciliation of the house reforms society."
Al-Araji stressed the urgent need to enhance societal cohesion and coexistence, through schools, universities, places of worship, civil society organizations, religious institutions and dialogue centers, as they help spread a culture of tolerance and acceptance of the other and combat any discourse that spreads hate, indicating that any offense to the other is hatred, and we must to know the reasons that prompted its publication.
He added, "The religious institution has a responsibility to point out any mistakes in society, as it has power over the hearts and feelings of people. Likewise, when the security services see that they are supported by the religious institution, they will carry out their duty properly," pointing out that "the tribal system and laws and their enforcement have a major role also in spreading the message of tolerance.
The National Security Adviser indicated that what happened in Sweden in terms of insulting more than two billion Muslims was not a transient issue, and there may be a group or line behind it that calls for provoking Muslims, stressing the need not to allow offense to our sanctities, just as we respect the sanctities of others, pointing to that all sacred to people must be respected.
For their part, clerics who participated in the meeting expressed their thanks to the National Security chancellery for holding such meetings that would preserve the social fabric and renounce hate speech, pointing out that the approach and unification of ranks among the people of society is in itself a renunciation of hatred.
The clerics also stressed that the meeting represents great importance at this particular time, indicating that combating hate speech must be through the wisdom recommended by God Almighty, stressing the importance of setting limits for discourse platforms and not allowing them to deviate from their path under the title of freedom of expression.
Also during the meeting, the importance of reviewing Iraqi penal laws and the possibility of merging and amending them, to be effective in combating hate speech, was also discussed. Awareness, education and dissemination of moderate discourse calling for tolerance and acceptance of the other, which must be addressed by the media and relevant institutions to combat hate speech and reject extremism, were also discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of distinguishing between freedom of expression and hate speech, according to criteria that everyone adheres to.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency