Shyaka Anastas Quotes
Democratic expression has been hijacked by ethnic discriminatory expression
800,000 Rwandans were murdered with machetes and shovels less than 20 years before. The ethnic genocide was triggered by various hate speech in rallies and over the radio. This type of speech was made illegal in Rwanda, not unlike Germany, Turkey, Israel, Singapore, and many other solid democracies but they do not have as strong a protection of free speech as in America.
Shyaka Anastas, Member, Rwanda Governance Board, Justification of some laws limiting freedom of speech, Al Jazeera America, September 15, 2013
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
In September of 2005 a Danish Newspaper published some political cartoons showing the hypocrisy of some Muslims who use Islam to justify murder of innocents and terrorism. Months later, in January of 2006 many in the Middle East protested vehemently and Muslim riots broke out because the Prophet Muhammad's visage was depicted against Islamic tradition. Many Muslim nations started a boycott against Denmark. Many Muslim leaders claimed that insulting religion was an “abuse” of freedom of speech including those from nations which regularly publish material that is virulent against Christians and Jews. Islamic country newspapers however, when it comes to what is perceived as material insulting to Islam, as typified by this editorial, feel that their religion should never be insulted despite the fact that Saudi Arabian media constantly insult Christianity and Judaism. Their justification of this gross double standard is that Islam is the “true” religion.
The 1st Amendment is almost absolute in its protection of speech. However, ironically the Untied States has much less internecine conflict with minorities better off than the nations where hate speech is illegal and criminal.
West, a very articulate, personable and accomplished Tea Party Candidate had won one of the 2010 congressional races in Florida. After two years in office, his rhetoric was so negative, vituperative, hateful and obviously untrue that the voters turned him out.
Geert Wilders, a far-right politician who was then seen as a likely contender to become prime minister was convicted by a 3 Judge Court of inciting discrimination and of insulting a group for saying that the Netherlands would be safer with fewer Moroccans. Wilders was one of the leading European Islamaphobes.
Referring to the Erdogan government of Turkey. That country elected Erdogan who then turned his back on the Ataturk inspired democracy and instituted many non-democratic policies and practices including jailing civil servants, teachers and journalists who publicly criticize the president or the government.
