Intellectuals: Hate speech threatens social peace

Intellectuals and activists in the city of Girkê Legê in al-Jazira canton warned of the escalating dangers of the spread of hate speech and incitement on social media platforms and in the media, as it threatens the social fabric and undermines the chances for peace.

Shams al-Din Nasr al-Din, a member of the Union of Intellectuals in al-Jazira canton, indicated that "the rise of this discourse fuels suspicion between groups, reduces opportunities for coexistence, and creates a charged environment where emotional reactions increase at the expense of rationality."

He considered that "the most realistic way out of this state of tension is to revive intra-Syrian dialogue, because it is a step that restores trust and opens the way for solutions formulated from within society itself."

For his part, Union member Benkin Adam believes that confronting hate speech is not simply a matter of removing offensive content, but rather of producing an alternative discourse that fosters awareness and encourages critical thinking.

He emphasized that "Syria's future will not be built on polarization or exclusion, but rather on the ability to create spaces for discussion and dialogue."

Adam added that "this confrontation is a long process that begins in the media, extends to schools and homes, and culminates in a national dialogue that restores the value of coexistence. Any project for the future will fail if it is not built on direct communication among Syrians."

Union member Shawkat Muslim pointed out that "the unregulated handling of online content has contributed to the spread of misinformation and hostile content that has revived divisions among Syrians."

He stressed "the importance of establishing professional standards for content, ensuring that digital platforms remain spaces for dialogue, not tools for incitement."

Muslim warned that "media institutions today face a difficult test, as their role is no longer limited to reporting the news, but now includes protecting public opinion from misinformation and inflammatory content." He called for "clear regulations to prevent the media from being exploited as a tool for incitement or spreading hatred," and considered that regulating digital content has become a necessity to protect society before it protects the media itself.

This warning comes after a noticeable spread of inflammatory content on social media and in the media recently, amid increasing calls to create spaces for constructive dialogue and regulate public discourse to serve social stability in Syria.

ANHA