PARLIAMENT RE-OPENS “HATE SPEECH BILL” FOR COMMENT

Parliament has re-opened the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill (“the Bill”) for public comment until Friday, 1 October 2021.
 
The decision to re-open the Bill follows on from the Constitutional Court’s recent decision and definition of hate speech (in the Qwelane matter).
 
Criminalisation of expression:
The Bill – for the first time in SA’s history – criminalises certain forms of expression. 
 
It defines “hate speech” wider than the Constitutional Court, and makes “hate speech” a criminal offence (Clause 4(1)).  The offence will make any speech (as well as the distribution of such speech) that could be construed to be “harmful” on a wide range of grounds, a criminal act carrying up to a 3-year jail sentence.
 
The hate speech definition and criminalisation will potentially have dire repercussions on freedom of (religious) expression.
  
TAKE ACTION NOW! 
Even if you have previously submitted comments on the Bill, please make a submission again. 
 
Download the template submission for either organisations or individuals, to use “as is” or adapt, and send it to Parliament (Hatecrimes@parliament.gov.za) by no later than Friday, 1 October 2021:

You can make an individual submission directly via the DearSA online platform https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/hate-speech/

For organisations, please download a form at https://forsa.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4971dbb62649f5372836debc8&id=d669e6d941&e=29858b9f43

Kind regards

Dion Rapakgadi
Analy Online Chief Publisher





The end..
********z
Taken from www.forsa.org.za 
Picture: Dear South Africa

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