Hate speech: ‘Solutions can be found only when you acknowledge the problem’

• 62-yr-old Muslim man was abused, harassed and tortured him on account of his religious identity
• ‘When such crimes are not acted against then an atmosphere is fostered which is a dangerous’
• ‘It has to be rooted out and when State has the will, it has to be seen that it ends’

The Supreme Court on Monday lamented the delay in registration of a criminal complaint by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with an alleged hate crime that took place at Noida in 2021, according to Bar and Bench.

The top court said: “There is no space for hate crime on the basis of religion in a security country. Hate speeches have to be rooted out and when the state has the will it has to be seen that it ends.

A Bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna directed the State authorities to produce copies of the complaint and also information on whether the accused are still behind bars.

The issue pertains to 62-year-old Kazeem Ahmed Sherwani of Delhi’s Zakir Nagar area who was waiting for an Aligarh-bound bus at Noida’s Sector 37 when he was offered a ride by a group of men. The men, however, abused, harassed and tortured him on account of his Muslim identity, he claimed. He added that police refused to register and also dissuaded him from pursuing the case when he visited a nearby police station.

He approached the Supreme Court seeking fair and impartial investigation and action against the culprit.

Addressing Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, who appeared for the State, Justice Joseph remarked that it is the duty of a secular State to weed out such hate crimes.

The Court asked that the Uttar Pradesh government to not sweep the incident under the carpet. “Solutions can be found only when you recognize the problem,” said the top court.

The court advised the Yogi Adityanath government to ensure that its police officials set an example at par with developed nations.

“It is said he was wearing his cap showing his religion. There is no space for hate crime on basis of religion in a secular country; it has to be rooted out and when State has the will, it has to be seen that it ends,” said the SC.

The top court observed: “When such crimes are not acted against then an atmosphere is fostered which is a dangerous issue and it has to be rooted out from our lives.”

In July last year, the top court had directed the Union Home Ministry to prepare a detailed chart outlining the compliance of states with the general directions issued by it in the judgments of Shakti Vahini and Tehseen Poonawalla, towards curbing hate speech, reported Bar and Bench.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM