Hate Speech During Ramadan – To Monitor Or Not?

Ever wondered how young people got involved in terrorist-related activities, including sacrificing their lives as suicide bombers? The Indonesian National Police seems to think that it has something to do with hate speeches – or more appropriately – hate sermons preached at mosques.

So last Friday, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Soekarna  indicated that police may be planning special surveillance of religious sermons during Ramadan to prevent hard-line Islamist groups from using the fasting month to spread radical views. Ramadan is the time when nightly prayers are held at mosques followed by sermons.

That remark did not go down well with the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI), Indonesia’s highest authority on Islamic affairs and other Muslim groups. While the Constitution allows for freedom of expression, Article 156 of the Criminal Code says that people who deliver hate speeches can be jailed for up to four years.

Now the police are saying something else.  National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri denied that such a plan exists to monitor mosques for hate sermons, and claimed that National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Nanan Soekarna was wrongly quoted by the press.

An article in the Jakarta Post said: “What to do with hate sermons? We certainly can’t ignore them. Some of the hatred and violent teachings that have led to young people becoming involved in terrorist activities, including suicide bombings, originated from mosques.”

So what is the solution? The author of the Jakarta Post article proferred this suggestion – encourage members of the public to exercise free speech to report hate messages as part of their civic duty. Why?  Because “society certainly cannot remain silent in the face of the growing influence of violent ideologies that preach hatred and encourage people to attack others on the grounds of their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual-orientation or economic class”.

The article goes on to say that the use of free speech to fight hate speech coupled with good education system is the best insurance against the spread of violent teaching and hatred.

Think about it.  Why should any preacher of any religion preach hate sermons?  Why encourage followers to develop hatred to such an extent that they are willing to be suicide bombers just so that they can kill their hated enemies?  Should such preachers of hate sermons be held responsible for the murder of innocent lives when suicide bombers strike?

Earlier posts:

Ritualistic Or Religious?
Suicide Bombers – Are They Also Victims?