HLHR.org
Thursday, March 30, 2023
  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
  • TAKE ACTION
  • NEWS
  • RESEARCH
  • IMPACT
  • RESOURCES
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
  • TAKE ACTION
  • NEWS
  • RESEARCH
  • IMPACT
  • RESOURCES
No Result
View All Result
hlhrorg
No Result
View All Result
Home Important

Denmark fails to take steps against racism, hate speech

February 8, 2023
0
Denmark fails to take steps against racism, hate speech

Human Lives Human Rights: Denmark failed to take effective measures against racist hate speech by discontinuing its investigation about an art exhibition showing racist hate images, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has found.

The Committee issued its decision after reviewing a petition filed by Momodou Jallow, former spokesperson for the National Association of Afro-Swedes, and national coordinator for the European Network Against Racism in Sweden.

READ ALSO

Recognize the most corrupt and clean governments of the world

A glance at the human rights situations since January 2023

“It does not suffice merely to declare acts of racial discrimination punishable on paper. Criminal laws and other legal provisions prohibiting racial discrimination, including racist hate speech, must also be effectively implemented,” said Committee member Mehrdad Payandeh.

The petition referred to an art exhibition sponsored by the Danish People’s Party held in the Danish Parliament building as well as in a private art gallery in Copenhagen in 2014. The collection included an image of Jallow and two other black persons hanging from a bridge, with the caption: “hang on, afrofobians”, and another image of Jallow depicted as a runaway slave from his master along with the text: “our negro slave has run away”, as well as a picture of two Roma community leaders with the words: “Gypsy crimes are something good.”

The creator of these pictures had been convicted in Sweden of defamation and inciting hatred against an ethnic group. In Copenhagen, the images were exhibited with an explanatory text based on the interviews given by the artist explaining the pictures’ background and purposes, as well as a reference to the conviction by the Swedish Courts concerning each of them.

Jallow filed a complaint against the artist and the organisers of the exhibition before the Danish authorities, alleging racial discrimination. The State Prosecutor of Copenhagen initiated an investigation but decided to discontinue the proceedings in light of domestic legislation and article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights on freedom of expression.

After his appeal was rejected in Denmark, Jallow brought his case to the Committee in 2018, stating that the decision to stop the investigation constituted a violation of the provisions on the ban of racial superiority, hatred and incitement to racial discrimination under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The Committee considered that the pictures in the petition constituted expressions of racist hate speech as these images amounted to the dissemination of ideas based on racial or ethnic superiority or hatred, incitement to hatred, contempt or discrimination.

The Committee highlighted the importance of striking a balance between the right to freedom of expression and the obligations to combat racist hate speech. In this case, the depictions and words express the idea of racial superiority. “Some of the pictures displayed specific anti-discrimination activists, with messages to humiliate them and tarnish their dignity, and that can incite racial hatred and violence,” Payandeh said.

“By depicting black people and members of the Roma community in a degrading manner, the pictures affect not only the rights of the portrayed individuals, but also those of other group members under the Convention”, he added.

The Committee found that the Danish authorities failed to give an appropriate and proportional response to combat this incident of racial discrimination. Therefore, it requested Denmark to apologise to the petitioner and grant him full reparation.

Tags: CERDDenmarkhate speechMehrdad PayandehMomodou JallowRacismSweden

Related Posts

Recognize the most corrupt and clean governments of the world
Important

Recognize the most corrupt and clean governments of the world

February 1, 2023
A glance at the human rights situations since January 2023
Important

A glance at the human rights situations since January 2023

January 20, 2023
The Swedish government's dual human rights approach
Important

The Swedish government’s dual human rights approach

January 6, 2023
France Racism: Moroccans in France face violence over World Cup
Important

France Racism: Moroccans in France face violence over World Cup

December 16, 2022
Rights experts visit Paraguay to assess rights of minorities
Important

Rights experts visit Paraguay to assess rights of minorities

November 12, 2022
Racial Discrimination to be reviewed in Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, France, Georgia and Jamaica
Important

Racial Discrimination to be reviewed in Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, France, Georgia and Jamaica

November 12, 2022

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

64 − 57 =

POPULAR NEWS

Palestinian detainees cross 100 days of boycotting Israeli courts

Palestinian detainees cross 100 days of boycotting Israeli courts

April 15, 2022
Analysis of Taliban offensive and necessary action

Analysis of Taliban offensive and necessary action

April 11, 2022
Taliban rule accompanied by killings and abuses

Taliban rule accompanied by killings and abuses

April 17, 2022
What was behind the death of Qatar's migrant workers?

What was behind the death of Qatar’s migrant workers?

April 21, 2022
Rights groups demand whereabouts of detained Egyptian journalist

Rights groups demand whereabouts of detained Egyptian journalist

April 24, 2022

EDITOR'S PICK

Guinea: Attacks on freedom of expression

Guinea: Attacks on freedom of expression

August 15, 2022
Amidst Taliban repression, Afghan women urge international community to take action

Amidst Taliban repression, Afghan women urge international community to take action

November 29, 2021
Restrictions imposed, internet suspended across Kashmir

Restrictions imposed, internet suspended across Kashmir

September 1, 2021
Dozens die at Morocco-Spain land border, AUC calls for probe

Dozens die at Morocco-Spain land border, AUC calls for probe

July 3, 2022
HLHR.org

About HLHR

Ours is a familiar story. A group of friends from all over the world have come together to chase the dream many others have chased before and are religiously working to fulfill; a world where human lives and human rights are treasured.

Recent Posts

  • Myanmar nationals in Thailand interrogated, deported
  • French police brutal with peaceful protesters
  • France24 TV fires journalist for her use of “pro-Palestine” terminology on social media
  • Arbitrary arrests, teargassing and brutal assault of protesters in Mozambique
  • Authorities in Senegal intensify repression ahead of 2024 election

Categories

No Result
View All Result

© 2021 HLHR.ORG All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • WHO WE ARE
  • TAKE ACTION
  • NEWS
  • RESEARCH
  • IMPACT
  • RESOURCES

© 2021 HLHR.ORG All rights reserved.