Japan Press Weekly

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2016 January 13 - 19 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Osaka City assembly adopts ordinance bill to regulate hate speech

The Osaka City Assembly on January 15 approved by a majority vote an ordinance bill to regulate hate speech, while the Liberal Democratic Party opposed to the bill. This is the first passage of an ordinance of this kind by a local assembly.

The bill defines hate speech as an act against a person or group on the basis of race or ethnicity aimed at excluding them from society, limiting their rights and freedom, and inflaming hatred, discrimination and violence against them. The bill calls for setting up a panel to identify hate speech and releasing names of groups conducting hate speech campaigns.

The Japanese Communist Party in the city assembly repeatedly claimed that hate speech victims are experiencing considerable suffering and human rights violations and that hate speech is a crime. A JCP assembly person before the vote said, “All political parties should vote for the bill.”

A 44-year-old Osaka citizen, who has joined anti-hate speech actions for three years, welcomed the approval of the ordinance bill. He expressed his hope that more and more municipalities will create a similar ordinance.

Past related articles:
> High court finds hate speech demonstrations illegal [July 9, 2014]
> Citizens petition gov’t to prevent hate speech [October 22, 2013]