The Jewish community of Moldova vehemently condemns any attempt to use hate speech as an instrument of political hatred. Their position has been expressed in an open letter, written in the context of increasingly frequent antisemitic and xenophobic commentary, and hate speech in the mass media and on social networks, IPN reports.
The Jewish community mentions that freedom of speech, freedom to engage in political disputes and to criticize political opponents are indispensable elements of a democratic society. The rights are protected by the legislation of Moldova, as well as by international laws. However, this type of protection does not cover hate speech. Freedom of expression is not an absolute right, and can be limited in order to impede infringements to human rights.
The Jewish community specifies that special responsibility in the context of stopping hate-promoting speeches is borne by public persons – politicians, social activists, journalists – whose opinions are of influence and are broadcasted across mass media outlets and social networks.
“In our opinion, any statement and comment that stresses a public person’s affiliation to the Jewish community, without a clear and justified context, creates a hostile environment within the society, one that is destructive, offensive, and demeaning, leading to humiliation of human dignity. We regretfully remind everyone that such behavior in our country’s history has repeatedly led even to physical violence against members of the community. The bloody lessons of the 20th century cannot and should not be forgotten,” says the letter.
The Jewish community urges all opinion leaders to criticize facts, not ethnicity or nationality, criticize ideas, not religion, political programs, not the language used to communicate them.
The letter also adds that any infringements in this regard, as well as breaches in fundamental human rights and liberties, should be condemned and punished by social rejection, criticized at the highest ranks of state governing and be punished according to national legislation.
