Hate speech bill: International Press Institute opposes capital punishment for abuse of media

THE International Press Institute (IPI), Nigerian chapter, on Sunday opposed capital punishment for abuse of media space as contained in the bill on hate speech before the National Assembly.

The institute, which expressed its opposition to hate speech and fake news, however, urged that National Assembly explore the alternatives of re-examining the existing laws to accommodate current realities.

The IPI in a statement by the chairman of Nigerian chapter, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, the executive board, Malam Wada Maida and the secretary, Raheem Adedoyin, said it noted that the bill had continued to attract comments and condemnations from various sections of the society.

It added that some stakeholders, including individuals and groups, have declared that the hate speech bill was inimical to press freedom and the exercise of the right to free speech.

The statement read, “As the global network of editors, publishers, media executives, communication scholars, senior journalists/media executives and experts in the communication industry on press freedom, the International Press Institute (IPI, Nigerian Chapter) firmly understands the implications of any law with contentious provisions for free speech, press freedom, media independence, safety of journalism practitioners and the unhindered operations of media businesses.

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“We wish to make it known that IPI does not in any way support the peddling of Hate Speech, Fake News and deliberate misinformation through any social or conventional media platform.

*We are aware that all of the aforementioned are usually the preserve of quacks and non-professionals who have no regard for the implications that such acts would have for our polity and for national peace and security.

“But we are decidedly opposed to laws with prescription of capital punishment and any other stiff and dehumanising penalties for such abuse of the media space.

“As responsible leaders of journalism, we appeal to all real stakeholders to go beyond the open condemnations by seizing the opportunity that would be presented at the impending public hearing to vigorously push for desired amendments or changes to any such Bill prior to its likely passage or rejection by the legislature.”

The IPI also charged the senate to “patriotically explore the alternatives of either re-examining the provisions of the Cyber Crime Act (2015) to accommodate current realities or advocating the applications, when necessary, of its provisions to check any negative use of social media.”