An Islamic organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has
condemned critics of the hate speech bill for blowing the issue out of
proportion and laying emphasis on the death penalty aspect only.
The Senate had on Tuesday reintroduced a bill that seeks to punish
authors of hate speech. The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Chief
Whip, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi and prescribes death by hanging for
culprits.
MURIC in a statement on Tuesday, by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola
said, “The evil perpetrated by merchants of hate speech is tremendous.
Only confusionists will ignore the enormity of hate speech. The
critics focus on the death penalty aspect and blow it out of
proportion. It is deliberate. The aim is to give a dog a bad name in
order to hang it. Most of the critics are either authors of hate
speech or its promoters and sponsors.
“The proposed bill has recognised degrees of culpability and
judiciability but cynics will not see this. We all know what
constitutes hate speech but we must be able to measure the level of
possible effect of a particular hate speech on society.
“That is why we agree with Senate that not all hate speeches should
attract the maximum sentence of death. Some will only attract jail
terms just to serve as deterrent. But in cases where a particular hate
speech causes loss of life or lives and massive destruction of
properties, only the death sentence can be commensurate. That is why
we are on the same page with the nineth Senate as its proposed hate
speech bill prescribes ‘not less than a five-year jail term or a fine
of not less than N10 million or both’ for offences such as harassment
on grounds of ethnicity.”
The group however called on Nigerians to unite against those bent on
bringing down a particular region and its people by causing mayhem.
“We charge the nineth Senate to boldly march on in its quest for a
saner society. Our lawmakers must rescue us from hypocrites, parasites
and Jekyll and Hydes masquerading as saviours of the people and men of
God. They grow in number and swell in venom when elections approach.
Hate speech is the answer and the time to legislate against it is now.
We must not wait until another election approaches.”
