In the vast realm of the internet, no one can impose barriers. However, if we accept this with raised arms, therefore allowing hatred to freely flourish, there will come a time – soon – when we will face the consequences.
And the price won’t be paid only by the one targeted but by the entire society. Let’s not say we didn’t know.
When a Member of Parliament can threaten a colleague while simultaneously promoting both misogyny and racism, and both the state’s Law Office and the Parliament wash their hands, it’s easy to envision the subsequent fallout for anyone not wearing blinders.
A few months ago, Alexandra Attalides reported Andreas Themistocleous for a post in which he threatened to send three black men to her. While everyone could understand what this meant (the blacks were not, of course, meant to clean the garden, but even for that purpose, racism was evident). However, it wasn’t just racism. It was and still is misogyny and fascism.
Every woman who dares to raise her voice, who has an opinion, exposes herself to mistreatment and is deemed worthy of her fate. That’s why she should stay silent and confine herself to the kitchen to avoid provocation.
This perception, which persists and reignites, is the reason why femicides and the murders of women are increasing worldwide. And let’s not go too far; let’s just look at Greece, where figures like our own Member of Parliament armed a horde of sick individuals who, with the greatest ease, kill women, partners, spouses, daughters, acquaintances, and strangers.
For the Law Office, therefore, the phrase “probably the three blacks never arrived” did not constitute a hate speech offence. It was simply seven words placed in sequence. As for the Parliament, despite being aware that the phrase “contains offensive, sexist, racist, and insulting character” was something that “occurred outside the Parliament” when it let it pass as well. However, it did not go unnoticed.
The seed has been planted, sprouted, and multiplied. It has unleashed potential attackers, misogynists, and fascists to assault women or anyone else they target in the same manner. “I think you need a couple of Muslims to rape you so you can come to your senses. What? You live in a protected area, and they don’t reach there? Soon you won’t know where to hide and which hole to crawl into,” says the potential assailant. How does the Law Office interpret such a statement? Will the authorities continue to turn a blind eye, citing freedom of speech and the chaos of the internet?
