Juventas: Hate speech and incitement to violence must be adequately sanctioned

Hate speech and incitement to violence must be adequately sanctioned in order to send a clear message that such behavior is punishable, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Juventas announced for the PR Center.

In response to the speech of lawyer Velibor Marković about LGBTI persons on social networks, they said that hate speech in the public space must not be normalized and that especially if it is aimed at minorities or groups of citizens that the privileged majority perceives as weaker, hate speech and incitement to violence they must be adequately sanctioned.

"Considering that the lawyer Velibor Marković is a public figure, who has made his statements on the social network Facebook available to the general public, and that he can have a certain influence on the creation of public opinion, we believe it is important to react, in order to send a clear message that such behavior is punishable both for him and for those who may have similar urges to spread hatred and incite discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ persons and women", according to Juventas.

The NGO pointed out that misogyny and homophobia are often the subject of jokes and that it is also an attempt to justify violence with the aim of making it appear acceptable.

In this way, as they believe, the whole society seems unhappy and "so we do not allow even those who consciously or unconsciously justify or encourage violence to see their inaction and not to repeat it".

"None of us should agree to the degradation of rights. In this society, no one subscribes to humiliating comments, threats (or, as lawyer Marković expresses it, "warnings"), "neck twisting", "back breaking", misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, regardless of gender, sex, sexual orientation and/or gender identity", Juventus said.

That NGO joined the criminal complaint against lawyer Marković, which will be prepared and submitted by Kvir Montenegro.