Baghdad conference addresses hate speech and calls for new legislation to protect Iraqi society

BAGHDAD — A conference to address hate speech in Iraq, titled Confronting Hate Speech and Rebuilding Confidence in Iraqi Society, commenced on Tuesday in Baghdad, organized by the Conference Palace Department under the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities.

The opening session featured key discussions, including a presentation by Keldo Ramzi Ogna, Director General of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), on Protecting Iraqi Components from Hate Speech. Ogna expressed deep concerns about the growing prevalence of hate speech in Iraq, emphasizing the urgent need for solutions to counteract its effects.

Ogna highlighted the necessity of enacting new legislation to assign clear responsibility to individuals promoting hate speech, with punitive measures for violators. He stressed that hate speech is often the precursor to more severe crimes, such as genocide and ethnic cleansing, and cited historical examples to illustrate its destructive impact.

He pointed to the Simele Massacre of the 1930s, which resulted in the deaths of over 5,000 Assyrians following incitement by official rhetoric, and the events of the 2014 Islamic State (ISIS) occupation, which were also fueled by hate speech.

The conference attracted participation from a diverse range of Iraqi society, including political, religious, academic, and community leaders. Discussions aimed to explore actionable measures to combat hate speech and foster unity among Iraq’s ethnic and religious groups.