Free speech is the cornerstone of a democratic society, it acts as the safe keeper of personal autonomy, guarding the privilege of the exchange of diverse opinions. The watchdog that ensures political pluralism and the input of a common man in the political decision-making. Public discourse is the linchpin for self-determination and the deliberative development of public opinion. Free Speech and resulting public discourse have birthed narratives and populist leaders.
The gift of free speech enables leaders of the public to express their political ideas, gather followers, harness and harvest people’s power and most importantly it allows the formation of a collective good that benefits large segments of the population. It ensures inclusion and allows the creation of a society that is equitable, hence hailed as the bedrock of a democratic society. Hate speech, on the other hand, is a threatening form of communication that is not only contrary to the enshrined principles of democracy and civil society but also acts as an incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence.
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Understanding the matter better
Free speech is a liberty that every citizen of Pakistan enjoys under Article 19 of the constitution of Pakistan, the same privilege that in wake of recent events is threatening the fabric of Pakistan’s social contract. Today, an overview of the country’s top trends on Twitter narrates a tale of individuals and communities that seem to have either skipped reading the fine print of the social contract or failed to grasp its essence. Free speech has turned to hate-mongering as its partakers continue to polarize and divide the society, taking for granted the most sensitive and invaluable asset of Pakistan that is still in its nascent stage- Democracy.
As the horrors of four cycles of local authoritarian exploitive dictatorships and global tales of fascist leaders and communist totalitarianism begin to fade from the living memory, the young population of Pakistan is, perhaps, at risk of under-appreciating the beauty of democracy, of overestimating its resilience and overvaluing its fragility.
The influencers and their cult warriors together with their social media armies defame, disrespect, dehumanize, discriminate and exclude differences of political opinion, fanning majoritarian intolerance. The use of prejudiced messages aimed at garnering public support has become a sought-after practice. In striving for popular sovereignty, the “leaders of the public” have skipped the values of tolerance and mutual respect, spewing hate propaganda. These groups in service of self-served interests, and exclusive say over the country’s direction have shaped and claimed the people-power for themselves while suppressing other side’s legitimate demands, and, more than often, hate speech begets hate crimes- a lesson that Pakistan continues to repeat and repent.
The country and its citizens have many times paid the price of hate speech in terms of blood. A sitting Governor was assassinated over his difference of opinion on blasphemy laws, a foreign national suffered brutal mob killing over accusation of blasphemy, its religious and ethnic majorities frequently experience violent crimes stemming from intolerance and discrimination, the widespread, unchecked virulent verbal hate has alienated Pakistan’s at-risk ethnic & religious minority groups from the political bodies and yet the hate speakers continue to brew divisions in the society, forgetting that democracy and peace within Pakistan have been hard won and imperfectly realized. Over time, the weavers have weaved popular prejudices, which have become normal features of national discourse that have left the society in fragments, and political cults.
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As the fever of hate speech grips the country, planted hatred, tales and deliberately spun false statements, threaten the integrity of the state’s institutions and key pillars, the influencers and the leaders must instead serve as examples of tolerance, respect, inclusion and peace, using the gift of free expression and speech for what it is meant to be in a democratic society. An avenue that offers free, safe, open, channels to share accurate information, express views and opinions and leads to the formation of diverse, but respectful societies in which everyone is given the opportunity to participate, articulate their ideas, make their demands heard and ultimately contribute to the creation of a truly democratic society.
The author is a Political Economist, currently working with the Punjab Board of Investment and Trade. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.