Hate Speech
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 3.3.18
Hate Speech
This section will look at the line between free speech and hate speech.
Hate Speech
- Free speech should be limited to not allow people to say things that may lead to hatred.
- We have seen that the Nazis told lies about the Jews to incite the population to hate them.
- This contributed to the Holocaust.
- Hate speech can be defined as something untrue and designed to spread hate.
What is true?
- It is difficult to agree on who gets to decide which ideas are true.
- If this is done by the majority, it can deny a voice to the minority.
- If it is decided by political leaders it can weaken democracy by stifling criticism.
- In recent times this has been the policy of the Chinese Government in Hong Kong.
Extremism
- In a society that believes in the value of freedom of speech, what are the limits?
- Does it extend to people whose jokes offend, or who tell lies, or spread hate?
- The French magazine Charlie Hebdo often made fun of religious ideas.
- In 2015 it printed cartoons of Muhammad and was attacked in Paris by Al-Qaeda.
Test yourself on Hate Speech
Why should free speech be limited?