As hate speech continues to rise globally, threatening social cohesion and international peace and security, the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, observed annually on June 18, holds growing significance. It serves as a vital reminder of the grave dangers hate speech poses to the safety, livelihoods, and freedoms of individuals and communities, and of its direct threat to civil peace and global security.
This international occasion aims to raise awareness about the urgent need to combat all forms and manifestations of hate speech — whether verbal, written, or behavioural — and to promote global initiatives that foster a culture of coexistence, dialogue, and acceptance of others. This comes amid an unprecedented surge in racist and biased rhetoric on many media platforms and social media networks — rhetoric that fuels division and encourages extremism and intolerance.
The UN defines hate speech as any kind of communication in speech that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group based on their religion, ethnicity, race, gender, or other identity factor.
The UN emphasises that addressing this phenomenon requires concerted efforts from governments, civil society, media institutions, and tech companies — while fully respecting freedom of opinion and expression.
In this context, the UN launched a comprehensive Strategy and Plan of Action to counter hate speech on June 18, 2019, initiated by Secretary-General António Guterres. It was a response to the growing manifestations of racism, extremism, and incitement in various parts of the world, while stressing the importance of upholding fundamental rights and strengthening partnerships between local and international stakeholders.
The strategy underlines the need for a holistic approach to address the phenomenon, while respecting freedom of opinion and expression and fostering co-operation among civil society organisations, media outlets, and technology companies — as part of the UN’s ongoing efforts to defend human rights and the rule of law.
Speaking on the concept of hate speech and whether there is a globally unified definition for it, Professor of Islamic Philosophy and Civilisation at the Community College, Dr Hind al-Hammadi, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the term itself reveals its nature, as it is based on rejecting and not accepting the other.
She explained that conflicts are not inherently religious or civilisational but are often exploited to achieve political, economic, or social ends driven by inherent human desires for self-interest and superiority.
Dr al-Hammadi noted that hate speech includes any written or spoken content intended to stir hatred toward different segments of society, and that it implicitly seeks to exclude individuals — through expulsion, marginalisation, or the restriction of rights. It is defined as behaviour that publicly incites violence or hatred against a group based on race, colour, or religion, she added.
The danger of extremist discourse lies not only in its language but also in the consequences it triggers, including reactions that can lead to rising tensions and conflict, she warned, explaining that the real risk stems from the false narratives and inaccurate generalisations promoted by hate speech, which can fuel extremism and hostility. Such rhetoric spreads negative and aggressive ideas that feed racism and hatred, often resulting in violent behaviour — whether individual or collective — that harms vulnerable groups, she pointed out.
Regarding the reasons some media outlets resort to religious incitement and hate speech, Dr al-Hammadi noted that many such outlets are politicised and act according to the agendas of their funders or affiliations, often without awareness. They exploit legally protected freedom of expression as a cover to spread extremist discourse rapidly and with wide impact — aiming to mislead the public, provoke chaos, and exploit societal divisions to justify violence and oppression in pursuit of narrow political or economic gains, she added.
On the hostile attacks against Islam and Muslims in many Western societies and the spread of Islamophobia, Dr al-Hammadi noted that such campaigns are often led by political parties pursuing their own interests, making use of media, education, and technology to serve political and economic agendas — sometimes even resorting to violence and incitement to chaos.
She emphasised that these attacks stem from a variety of religious, economic, and political motives, and that some Western analysts believe that the rapid spread of Islam poses a threat to their identity and culture, despite Islam being a religion of peace and social justice, pointing out that this makes it a strong ideological competitor to systems that seek dominance and control.
She also pointed out that the Islamic world’s wealth of natural resources is a factor in economic conflicts that contribute to hate, in addition to the use of hateful rhetoric during electoral campaigns.
As for effective ways to confront hate speech, Dr al-Hammadi stressed the importance of promoting understanding of Islam through early education, media, and technology, considering that ignorance is one of the main reasons for distorting the religion’s image.
She affirmed the need for the Arab and Islamic world to unify ranks to face challenges threatening their religious security and identity, so that they may become a strong, dignified, and resilient force.
Dr al-Hammadi also called for enhanced regional and international co-operation to combat hate speech and intolerance, referring to international agreements such as Articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibit incitement to national, racial, or religious hatred. She also mentioned the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and laws protecting freedom of expression.
She stressed that the UN and human rights organisations must not neglect their responsibility to protect international peace and security, and must take firm action against those who violate these agreements.
In a related context, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue, Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Naimi, said in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that hate speech is a mental state characterised by intense feelings of hostility and contempt towards others. The traditional definition of the term has changed with the development of the media, as the spread of hate speech has become much greater and easier through modern means of communication.
Dr al-Naimi added that the danger of hate speech lies not only in the words or expression, but also in its connection to the heart and belief, making the resulting violence even more dangerous, whether it is driven by individual ego or racial or religious superiority.
He referred to Qatar’s efforts in combating hate speech, highlighting its commitment to promoting peace and harmony both domestically and internationally, its prominent role in mediating between conflicting parties, and providing platforms for dialogue between different religions and cultures, in addition to its effective contributions to the field of dialogue and coexistence.
Dr al-Naimi added that Qatar National Vision 2030 focuses on promoting the spirit of tolerance and benevolence and encouraging constructive dialogue, in line with the country’s Arab and Islamic identity. He pointed to the social cohesion in Qatar, which embodies a model of coexistence between different nationalities and religions, where everyone freely practices their rituals and interacts positively with one another.
He noted the establishment of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue in May 2007, stressing that the Center represents a national voice reflecting Qatar’s vision as a country of tolerance and love. The centre works to expose the false accusations against Islam and seeks to build understanding and peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions, he added.
Dr al-Naimi explained that the centre is implementing two parallel plans: an external plan, which involves holding specialised international conferences bringing together intellectuals and religious leaders from more than 70 countries to discuss issues of coexistence, and an internal plan, which aims to build a generation of citizens and residents in Qatar who uphold the values of tolerance, respect, and coexistence.
Dr al-Naimi concluded his remarks to QNA by emphasising that all religions call for love and peace, and that the mistakes made by some religious followers do not reflect the true nature of religion itself. He emphasised that this is the core of what the centre has addressed in its conferences.
Observers of hate speech around the world emphasise the importance of promoting the principle of real and realistic coexistence, considering that social tensions stem primarily from the failure to implement the values of acceptance of others, and that coexistence is not an option, but rather a national and legal necessity — especially in light of the enduring religious and cultural diversity that characterises humanity. They also emphasised that violence and conflict will only further complicate the humanitarian situation.
