Monday, June 12, 2023

Malaysia: Countering hate speech

Malaysia|Gender and Sexual Diversity

ARTICLE 19
11 June 2023

People use their phones as they take part in a Women’s Day March to call for gender equality and recognition of LGBT rights, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 12 March 2023. 
Zahim Mohd/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In Malaysia, minority groups, including ethnic and religious minorities, migrants, and LGBTQI+ persons are most often victims of hate speech.

This statement was originally published on article19.org on 7 June 2023.


There is no universally agreed-upon definition of hate speech, nor is the term hate speech codified in international law. In reviewing definitions of hate speech from varying institutions, ARTICLE 19 has identified that the term to encompass any expression imparting opinions or ideas bringing an internal opinion or idea to an external audience. Hate speech can take many forms, including written, non-verbal, visual, artistic, etc, and may be disseminated through any media, including internet, print, radio, or television.

The discussion among Malaysian politicians surrounding hate speech centres around the limitation of alternative views that often holds consequences of criminal charges.

In Malaysia, minority groups, including ethnic and religious minorities, migrants, and LGBTQ+ persons are most often victims of hate speech. At the same time, the term hate speech is often instrumentalised by majority groups to silence expression that is protected under international law, including that which may be offensive. Individuals and groups who do not engage in hate speech but speak out against the government, State officials, or a religion are often penalised, and political dissent is silenced.

ARTICLE 19 presents a policy note on recommendations to address hate speech through a multi-stakeholder approach in place of laws that are overbroad and vague.

Read the policy note here
Additional materialshttps://www.article19.org/resources/malaysia-efforts-to-combat-hate-speech-should-not-trample-freedom-of-expression/
https://www.article19.org/resources/hate-speech-malaysia/
https://www.article19.org/action-on-un-standards-to-tackle-hate/
https://www.istanbulprocess1618.info/

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