Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – A new study commissioned by The Gambia’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), with support from UNESCO, has identified politicians and religious leaders as the leading perpetrators of hate speech in the country, according to The Standard newspaper.
The study, conducted in 2024, also revealed that political affiliation, ethnicity, and religious beliefs are the primary grounds upon which victims are targeted. These findings were unveiled during a national convergence on combating hate speech held Tuesday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
Speaking at the event, NHRC Chairperson Emmanuel Daniel Joof warned of the dangers of hate speech, drawing parallels with historical atrocities.
“Hate speech isn’t just an abstract concept — its consequences can be truly devastating,” Joof said. “From the Holocaust to the Rwandan genocide, history has shown that unchecked hate speech can lead to unthinkable violence.”
He emphasized that hate speech dehumanizes individuals based on their identity and thrives on ignorance and distortion of facts. “If left unchecked, it has the power to tear apart the very fabric of our society,” Joof added.
The study further found that religious intolerance was a notable driver of hate speech, with 36% of government respondents and 17% of the general public pointing to it as a factor.
UN Resident Coordinator Yvonne Masarakufa described hate speech as a serious threat to human rights and democratic governance. She called for stronger legal frameworks, increased public education, and open dialogue to confront the issue in accordance with international human rights standards.
Masarakufa also stressed the vital role of religious and traditional leaders in promoting national unity, saying, “Your voices matter. Together, we must turn Gambia’s diversity into a source of strength.”
In a strong statement against hate speech, Sheikh Alhagie Essa Darboe, president of the Gambia Islamic Council, described it as a direct threat to social cohesion. He called for greater efforts to foster tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The national convergence brought together key stakeholders from government, civil society, religious institutions, and the media, all aiming to chart a path forward in tackling hate speech in The Gambia.
