MWL launches campaign to end religion-related hate speech

The Muslim World League (MWL) has launched the #RejectHate campaign to end Islamophobic content, as well as other religion-related hate speech, on social media. 

The campaign, which invites supporters to sign a change.org petition, urges social media companies to adopt stronger anti-Islamophobic policies as part of their anti-hate regulations. In October of last year, both Facebook and Twitter announced that they would remove posts that deny the Holocaust, but have yet to adopt anti-hate policies that address other religious groups.

In recent months, Facebook and Twitter have introduced several rules designed to combat hate and bigotry on their platforms.  Despite these new regulations, both companies continue to allow purveyors of Islamophobic content to spread hateful and false characterisations of the Islamic faith and the more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, confirmed MWL.

Currently on Facebook, “one in every 1,000 posts shared violates the company’s rules on hate speech”, according to MLW. The social media giant “allows more than three-quarters of content which violates their anti-hate rules to remain; even after it is reported and investigated, giving a free pass for content targeting any group to be proliferated through Facebook. Twitter boasts similar statistics,” it noted. 

ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICIES NEEDED

“Facebook and Twitter can and must do better”, said MWL. “Both companies have expressed a new resolve to combat hate speech, fake news and harmful content on their platforms; now is the time for them to follow through on these commitments,” it added. MWL is calling for a zero-tolerance policy towards hate speech targeting Muslims or adherents to any religion; and more robust procedures to see hateful content quickly removed.

“There are prevailing voices that only represent the hateful outlook of extremism and isolation that are being amplified on social media,” stated MWL Secretary General His Excellency Sheikh Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issasaid. “Social media has the power to bring people together across physical boundaries; but in recent years we have seen it become a breeding ground for hatred and intolerance.” 

MWL is a Makkah-based non-governmental organisation that represents adherents of the Islamic faith around the world. His Excellency Sheikh Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa has led the organisation since 2016. He is widely recognised as a leading global voice on moderate Islam; committed to bringing global awareness to the religion’s true message of empathy, understanding and cooperation among all people.