ICT slaps ban on circulation of Hasina’s ‘hate speech’

The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday banned the dissemination of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's "hate speeches".

The tribunal also ordered the concerned authorities of the government to take immediate steps for the removal of such statements already published on electronic and social media.

The ICT's ban and order came after the hearing of a petition filed by the prosecution yesterday seeking a ban on hate speeches and other statements made by Hasina.

Hasina is an accused in a number of cases and her statements may hinder the investigation process, or create fear among witnesses or victims, said ICT Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim.

Referring to some speeches and leaked phone conversations of Hasina that were published on social and electronic media, he said the victims and witnesses were threatened with some of the words used in these speeches and conversations.

"If speeches like these are published and broadcast, we won't be able to bring witnesses to the tribunal at the time of trials," the prosecutor added.

The prosecution submitted the plea to stop the publication of such hate speeches that may be made in the future, and to remove those already on our social and electronic media, he said.

Speaking to reporters outside the tribunal, the prosecutor said that the ICT heard the petition and relevant international and local laws on the matter before accepting it.

The ICT thereafter ordered relevant authorities of the government to remove the hate speeches that have already been broadcast, and to make sure no such speech is broadcast in the future, said Prosecutor Tamim.

Prosecutor Abdullah Al Noman said, "We will ensure that the tribunal's order is communicated in writing to the relevant authorities of international platforms like Facebook, Twitter (now X), and YouTube."

Noman clarified that speeches made by Hasina that are circulating on social media now fall under the purview of the Rabat Plan of Action of the United Nations.

Any speech outside of that made by Hasina will not have any broadcasting restrictions.

The Rabat Plan of Action is a United Nations document that suggests a high threshold for defining restrictions on freedom of expression and incitement to hatred.