Editorial: Hate does not grow in a vacuum

A new report which warned of “alarming levels” of hate speech across Europe sadly comes as no surprise. The rise of the far right, the stereotyping and social media algorithms have exacerbated the hatred and division.

The rhetoric used during Malta’s recent election campaign also risks feeding the same patterns of hate speech, according to experts we spoke to last week. 

Along the years, we cannot say there haven’t been attempts to stem hate speech in Malta. 

The website for human rights in Malta highlights some of the changes made over the past years, including the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity to its hate crime and hate speech provisions in the Criminal Code. 

Punishments for such crimes were also increased, and changes were made to the Press Act. There were even changes made to the police system to help with the reporting of hate crime, as well as sensitivity training for police recruits and officers. 

In 2021, an Anti-Racism Strategy was adopted to prevent and counteract hate speech, promoting inclusive public discourse and addressing racial discrimination.

And yet, the theory is not the main problem: the reality is. 

The ECRI report on Malta pointed out that it was not enough to have strategies in place, but that their impact needed to be measured – something the government should heed. The maxim that ‘action speaks louder than words’ does not only apply to this case.

What examples can we refer to from the recent electoral campaign? What can we learn from the social media comments posted under any story dealing with migrants and the issue of population?

The “go back to your country” mentality, fuelled by ignorance of the law and fundamental human rights, should alarm us all. It reflects a dangerous readiness to judge entire communities by a single event or the actions of a single individual, as though one person’s crime makes every compatriot – or worse, every person of the same race – somehow responsible. 

Just look at the widespread abuse directed at Labour candidate Omar Rababah because of his religion. 

The “go back to your country” mentality, fuelled by ignorance of the law and fundamental human rights, should alarm us all

Consider the way some prominent politicians parade the deportation of irregular migrants as a badge of honour, with scant regard for the stereotypes they perpetuate, the divisions they deepen or the individuals they may push closer to breaking point.

Why does it matter to beware of lapsing into xenophobia and homophobia in our thoughts, let alone our speech or social media posts? 

Former European commissioner Helena Dalli warned that hatred does not emerge in isolation, and that there was a link between hate speech, discrimination and social exclusion. 

“When prejudice is normalised in public discourse, it creates an environment in which exclusion, discrimination and, in some cases, violence become more likely,” she said. 

Academic and human rights activist Maria Pisani went further saying that “established and institutionalised narrative” would enable racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia to spread.

Pisani warned: “… fuelling these sentiments, and stoking divisions, erodes trust and cohesion in our communities and runs contrary to the social well-being that all the parties claim to value so much.”

Social well-being, trust and cohesion is under threat in many ways, from extraordinary levels of bullying at schools, to ignorant rants on social media. 

Rosianne Cutajar is the new Minister for Equality and Civil Rights. Her job is to try to change this narrative by promoting that a diverse culture becomes richer through various groups being able to co-exist and thrive. 

We sincerely hope she will manage to achieve this not only in theory but in measurable results.

CAPTIONOmar Rababah contested for Labour on the sixth and seventh districts.