Advertisement
Letters | India and Pakistan mustn’t let hate speech win
- Readers discuss why hate speech must be challenged, the identity of Hong Kong athletes, and the trouble with words such as ‘elderly’
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
2
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.
Despite their differences, India and Pakistan have a lot in common: a birthday (in August), a (contested) border and a strong current of religious fundamentalism that shapes politics. Religious persecution and hatred have in these neighbouring nations become vital tools for the concentration of power.
Advertisement
Each year on August 22, we observe the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. I cannot bring myself to mark this day by looking only at history though. Instead, I ask you to consider the future with me, to think about where we will be one year from now.
By then, both India and Pakistan should have held general elections. Religion is already being weaponised in both states as a campaign strategy. By this time next year, will the parties who scapegoat religious minorities have succeeded again in mobilising hatred for political gains? Will democratic forces have been able to stem the tide of hate speech? Will the violence we are already witnessing have escalated?
Advertisement
The point of commemorating past events is to learn their lessons. It is not enough for us to say “Never again”; we must show we mean it.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x