Tadić-Mijović: Politicians and political parties are generators and inspirers of hate speech

Politicians and political parties are generators and inspirers of hate speech, which can have dangerous consequences for the stability of society and democratic processes, according to Milka Tadić-Mijović, director of the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro (CIN-CG).

She said this at the debate entitled "Reporting on diversity: Media, political actors and hate speech", in which the Minister of Culture and Media Tamara Vujović participated.

In the past four years, CIN-CG has recorded hundreds of cases of hate speech directed at ethnic and religious groups and minority communities.

The problem is that the language of hatred and calls for violence and intolerance come from representatives of the highest state positions - MPs, mayors and officials of political parties.

He is particularly concerned that hate speech is being heard more and more frequently from the parliamentary rostrum, at government meetings, in the media and on social networks, as well as the fact that dangerous messages are increasingly available.

"Political structures, that is, parties and holders of public office, are generators and inspirers of hate speech, which can have dangerous consequences for the stability of society and democratic processes," Tadić-Mijović pointed out.

In CIN-CG, they noted the strengthening of nationalism, attempts to revise the past, denial of genocide, glorification of war criminals and relativization of crimes. Hate speech and disrespect for diversity endangers the transition of Montenegro towards functional democracy and the rule of law and encourages the polarization of society, CIN-CG emphasizes.

"In Montenegro, power structures encourage divisions among different groups, so diversity, instead of being an advantage, is often presented as a danger to the community," said Tadić-Mijović.

In an attempt to solve the problem, the Ministry of Culture and Media is announcing a new law on media.

"That the person who is the target of hate speech can initiate urgent court proceedings, that is a great improvement in the law itself," Vujović said.

And hate speech and the deepening of divisions, according to Tadić-Mijović, are encouraged by politicians.

"I deeply believe that in this country there is much more potential for social cohesion than for conflict, that political elites through the media they control and social networks and entire bot armies manipulate our differences in order to strengthen their positions," she said.

And all this in a country where economic reforms, the establishment of an efficient judiciary and the professionalization of state administration are delayed.

CIN-CG indicates that Article 370 of the Criminal Code provides for a prison sentence of six months to five years for public incitement to violence or hatred....

"With us, these punishments are absolutely not imposed, and we have outpourings of hatred every day," said Tadić-Mijović.

Portals with unclear ownership structures and unknown addresses are often platforms from which worrisome content spreads. The authorities say that they will try to put an end to them.

"He must be registered in our legal system. There won't be any portal that you don't know about, that in itself will constitute a misdemeanor, which will be punishable by a fine," said Vujović.

One of the news will be that a media founder who is punished for hate speech will not be able to access the Fund for Media Pluralism.

Minister Vujović also announced that Montenegro will receive a Network for the fight against hate speech, online harassment and misinformation.