A YOUNG UNIVERSITY graduate resident was given a chase by Toronto Police for over-speeding on one of the roads in the city of Toronto.
When the police finally pulled him over, he was given a ticket for over speeding. After the police have asked him to go, he pulled his middle finger on the peace officer who gave him another ticket for insulting behavior.
Two weeks after that incident, a New Yorker, who posted strong words on his Facebook wall, was found guilty by a law court. It sentenced him to three years imprisonment.
What impression do these two scenarios create in your mind?
The impression is that the act of speaking insulting words or hate speeches in our schools, communities, cities, provinces and at our work places has become so common that it calls for a strong collaborative effort to raise awareness to control it.
Well, some concerns have been raised about it. But, it is also clear that more people are not bothered and the insults keep flying every day like scud missiles in the air hitting creating tension in our communities, airwaves, schools, work places and homes.
Sadly, politicians are making hate speeches, teachers, lawyers, religious leaders, doctors, journalists, students and ordinary parents are chewing it like gum, as if the reported cases of offenders and their punishments would serve as deterrent to others. Not. The more we hear friends, students, workers, supervisors and politicians continue to speak it, there is the risk of being trapped in the drag net of the law.
Because I am not a legal luminary, I will first define it outside of law and then what the law says on hate speech.
Hate speech is simply defined as communication that vilifies a person or group based on discrimination against that person or group. So using (S) word, (F) word on someone can be termed as hate speech.
In law, hate speech is any speech, gesture, or conduct, writing or display which is forbidden because it may incite violence or prejudicial action against, or by a protected individual or group, or, because it disposes or intimidates a protected individual or group.
The law may identify a protected individual by certain characters where in some countries, a victim of hate speech may seek redress under the civil law, criminal law or both.
A website that uses hate speech is called a hate site. Most of these contain internet forums and news briefs that emphasise a particular viewpoint.
A Case In Point
On February 14, 2022, Windsor police reported that it was investigating a hate speech or threat in relation to a bomb threat that was posted on the social media. According to the police, the threat was specific to a residence belonging to the mayor Drew Dilkens.
In August 2013, “The Toronto Sun” newspaper reported that Toronto police was investigating a hate speech, after a speaker of a controversial anti-Israeli rally said Jews must vacate that country or be shot dead.
The story said the Center for Israel and Jews Affairs [C.I.J.A], the group claiming to have complained to the police, identified the speaker as Elias Hazineh, who issued the hate speech at Queens Park in Toronto.
The event featured the speaker who, in the video footage, insisted that Jews must leave Israel’s heartland or face death.
While on the side of the New Yorker, he posted a speech about his ex-girlfriend on Facebook. It was found by another person who hinted his ex-girlfriend, who also complained to the police. This led to his subsequent arrest, charge with hate speech and getting a jail sentence.
Canada Does Not Tolerate Hate Speech
In Canada, issuing a hate speech, insulting or advocating genocide or inciting hatred against any identifiable individual or group, is an indictable offence under the criminal code of Canada, with maximum prison terms of between two and fourteen years.
An identifiable group is defined as any section of the public distinguished by colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.
One greatest achievement so far by the police and the law courts is judicial control over religious leaders and individuals alike, which checks hate speeches or insults that could cause chaos in Canada.
This does not mean that after the fines by the police, the courts and jail sentence served, the law enforcers have completed their work and anybody elsewhere can make any speech be it insulting or hateful and inciting, and go Scot-free?
No, I want everyone to be mindful that the big brothers in the blue/black uniform are watching you closely to trap you in the law net.
As we continue to take bold steps in the year 2022, my advice to avowed Ghanaians in Canada and beyond is found in the book of life Ephesians 4:31 which says and I quote, “Let all… Screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you.”
Ladies and gentlemen, words can become weapons producing devastating effects as another Bible proverb says, “It is better to be living in a waste land than with a bitter tongue an angry woman or man” emphasis mine, Proverbs 21:19.
And when it comes to senior and junior worker relationships, the Bible says in Colossians 3:21 “Do not be exasperating your children and parents too, so that they do not become downhearted.”
Since most of us have formed workplace families, this statement is very important for all of us in order to accommodate each and every one, as far as discharging our various duties are concerned.
Readers, I want you to know this year that just as ocean waves can erode solid rock; a pattern of hurtful speech can also weaken a family just like what we have formed in our homes, schools, churches, workplaces and in our communities.
In conclusion, may the Lord our God guide and counsel us. May he protect us and our families and make us prosperous this and the years ahead of us, and bring our families we have lost custody of, as a result of hate speech, to continue what God has blessed us with, which is prosperous families to contribute to the growth of our dear countries Canada and Ghana.
The writer is a freelance broadcast journalist in Toronto-Canada.
BY Stephen Armah Quaye