Hate Speech is a Serious Challenge for Armenia as Well, Says Naira Zohrabyan at PACE

During the ongoing session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, a report addressing the issues of press and journalist freedom and safety was discussed, during which Prosperous Armenia Party MP Naira Zohrabyan delivered a speech.

In her address, Zohrabyan stated that hate and antagonistic speech is a serious challenge today in Europe and also in Armenia, which needs to be halted immediately.

Zohrabyan emphasized that hate speech poses a serious threat to democracy in Europe and is increasingly becoming a significant issue in "my country, Armenia." The language of hate and enmity has created a dangerously deep divide in society that continues to widen. Social media has turned into a battlefield where all possible weapons of mass destruction fueled by hatred and animosity are now being employed. This must be stopped. It must be halted sooner rather than later.

“Dear colleagues, any discussion regarding press freedom and the safety of journalists has a particular sensitivity for me as a former journalist. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights clearly stipulates that it is the direct obligation of states to establish a legally secure environment to ensure the normal functioning of journalists and media professionals. Nevertheless, the profession of a journalist remains one of the most dangerous worldwide, and in Europe, journalists continue to be killed, persecuted, and imprisoned for their professional activities,” she added.

According to the Council of Europe’s Platform for Journalism and Safety of Journalists, 26 journalists have been killed in the last three years, while 109 journalists are currently in prison. Reporting on oppression of free speech and journalists, as well as false criminal charges, names Turkey and Azerbaijan as notable offenders, which has long ceased to surprise any of us. Turkey can be considered a Guinness World Record holder for the number of imprisoned journalists, continuing to keep them in captivity for years under false criminal charges while blocking hundreds of media outlets.

“Dear colleagues, I find it extremely important that Lord Falkes also addressed the hate, violence, and enmity propagated through social media. Believe me, hate speech is a significant challenge to democracy in Europe, and it is becoming a serious problem in my country, Armenia,” Zohrabyan stressed.

She concluded her remarks by stating, “As the Chair of the Human Rights Protection Committee in the Armenian Parliament, a working group was recently established in our committee to attempt to develop legislative initiatives to legally restrict destructive speech of hate and enmity, ensuring that we do not harm freedom of speech in any way. Frankly, I do not know if we will succeed or not. However, if we do manage it, I will share our experience with our Assembly. One thing is clear: no country has the right to speak of democracy while having a society divided by hatred and enmity.”