Greek participants from project ”In4Migration”cofunded by Erasmus + program decided to write an article about Hate speech in Greece.
According to the official United Nations’ documents hate speech is “any kind of communication in speech, writing or behavior, that attacks or uses pejorative or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group on the basis of who they are, in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender or other identity factor.” As an action, it can be very harmful and dangerous. However a big number of the considered high developed countries have no laws regarding to this specific form of violence.
In Greece hate speech is a common phenomenon, especially in the digital environment of internet and social media. Lately a short video has upset the Greek community. A young woman named Afrodite Latinopoulou, politician and former tennis champion released a video full of hate speech about women who have body imperfections, do not shave themselves but also about men who choose to remove their body hair. She put on the table arguments about the “new beauty icons” that are promoted by the society and present hairy, imperfect women and hairless men as something normal and beautiful.
The reactions were very fast and intense. Her Instagram account rapidly turned into a fighting pit where people responded to this unprovoked attack to common sense. It was one of the few times that almost the whole social media community reacted to something in this way. Surprisingly not only she did not apologize for her action but she insisted by making TV appearances explaining that she is proud to have such an opinion. She also claims that even this kind of popularity is positive and that a lot of people sent her messages of support for her courage to express herself against modern values.
It is clear that we have the freedom of speech and we are allowed to express every opinion we may have. However it does not mean that we have the right to insult and attack because this is how someone can abuse his right to any freedom.
