Experts deem anti-hate speech law will safeguard country and its people against bigotry and hatred

ABU DHABI, 23rd July, 2015 (WAM) -- A leading travel industry online news service, eTN Global News, yesterday published a lengthy article commenting on the UAE's new anti-hate law. In an unsigned report, eTN quoted Dr. Mohammad bin Huwaidin, of the UAE University, and Dubai-based political analyst Dr. Theodore Karasik as welcoming the law, saying that it would protect the UAE and its inhabitants from bigotry and hatred. With more than 200 nationalities successfully co-existing in the UAE, the anti-hate speech law, decreed by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, will safeguard the country and its people against bigotry and hatred speech that leads to extremism and violence, Dr. Mohammad bin Howaidin, Chairman of the Political Science Department at UAE University, said. Dr. Bin Howaidin stressed that religions are practised freely in the UAE and the government works hard to prevent extremism and warn people about its dangers, and this legislation comes in that context. The law criminalises any acts that stoke religious hatred or that might insult religion through any form of expression, be it speech or the written word, books, pamphlets or in online media platforms. The law, which will be enforced a month after it is published in the official gazette, also includes provisions for punishing anyone for terming other religious groups or individuals as infidels or unbelievers. The law is intended to provide a sound foundation for the environment of tolerance, broad-mindedness and acceptance in the UAE and aims to safeguard people regardless of their origin, beliefs or race, against acts that promote religious hate and intolerance. Penalties for violation of the various provisions of the law include jail terms of from six months to over 10 years and fines ranging from Dh50,000 to Dh2 million. Dr. Bin Howaidin said that criminalising speech that insults, defames or incites hatred, discrimination or violence on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability or sex is a remarkable testimony to the strength of belief and hope the UAE holds in the face of bigotry and violence, a goal towards which the international community should seek to contribute. He said that condemning and containing bigotry and hate speech at the same time is key to preventing terrorism. "The law comes at a time when racism and hatred of foreigners are all rising in an unbearable way in the troubled Middle East and across the world," Bin Howaidin said. Dr. Theodore Karasik, a UAE-based geopolitical analyst, said that the UAE is a moderate, advanced, peace-loving nation where its inhabitants practice cosmopolitanism. "This new anti-hate law serves as a model for the rest of the world at a time when hate is spreading across the region and the globe," Dr. Karasik said. "It is necessary and innovative as it halts the etiology of cultural, racial and religious differences." Dr. Karasik stressed that the UAE anti-hate law is well-timed and far-reaching. "Not only does the new law enforce tolerance on those who harbour hate, but also puts the UAE ahead of any other country in the world in terms of stifling anger over ‘those who may be different’ through stereotypes. There is no space in the UAE for this type of behaviour because the phenomenon is counterproductive, hurtful, and demeaning," he told Gulf News. Dr. Karasik said that other countries suffer daily from hatred which can take many forms, either through violence, voice, or via cyberspace in terms of cyber-bullying and posts on social media. The law, he said, brings the concept of social security to a new level that protects everyone in the UAE. "The proliferation of hate groups is testimony to the trend accompanied by a lacklustre response in key countries to fight this scourge," Dr. Karasik said. "Hate is a driver of social destruction, not only in terms of race and ethnic relations, but also between religions. Hate is intense, long-lasting, and demands retaliation or redress. Hate, in other words, clouds reason. Clearly, hatred leads to extremism which manifests itself across a broad spectrum of belief systems and cultures, but the UAE inhabitants don’t have time for this type of discourse. Besides, it’s shameful," he said. . – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395283559065.html