CIVIL –Centre for Freedom reacts strongly and condemns the hate speech that is spreading on the social networks in regards to the post shared by Mayor of Kumanovo Maksim Dimitrievski that he has tested positive for Covid-19.

Hate speech, in times of a state of emergency and dealing with the pandemic, can threaten human rights and freedoms even more. Spreading hate speech for party and political profits, at the expense of other people’s health and lives, only deepens the crisis and degrades the political culture in the country. Instead of helping and declaring solidarity, certain politicians are obviously using the pandemic as an opportunity to spread hate speech.

Even more frightening are statements made in the name of faith, and with poisonous statements at the expense of the health of individuals, but also of all citizens, regardless of whether they have or have not tested positive for the virus.

Regardless of party or religious determination, CIVIL demands a stop to the spreading of hate speech and to the calls for violence.

CIVIL calls on the competent institutions to react immediately and to sanction such attacks, in accordance to the laws, and calls on the public to condemn such behaviour.

Only by jointly opposing such instances we can put an end to hate speech and help in the fight against the pandemic.

CIVIL Communication Team