Hate speech poses grave dangers for the cohesion of a democratic society, the protection of human rights and the rule of law. If left unaddressed, it can lead to acts of violence and conflict on a wider scale. In this sense hate speech is an extreme form of intolerance which contributes to hate crime. The effective action against the use of hate speech requires raising public awareness of the importance of respecting pluralism and of the dangers posed by hate speech. Hate speech is a menace to democratic values, social stability and peace. As a matter of principle, hate speech must be confronted at every turn and be tackled in order to prevent armed conflict, crimes and terrorism, and violence. Pre-emptive action is a must to ensure that religious congregations do not degenerate into platforms for spreading communal hatred. Empowering the local police to nab troublemakers before they spew venom can help keep the situation under control. The priority should be to nip the menace in the bud.
