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March to end online hatred to be held in Malta

Xinhua, July 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

A march called "Connect from the heart", initiated through the broader online campaign No Hate Movement by the Council of Europe, is scheduled to be held here on Saturday, according to the organizer Wednesday.

Organized by local NGOs such as SOS Malta, African Media Association Malta, Migrant Women Association Malta and so on, the initiative seeks to stop online hate speech, in particular hate speech targeting refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDP) and migrants.

A statement posted online by the organizer read: "We are witnessing now an unprecedented situation where the so-called 'refugee crisis' continues to provoke heated debates on the impact it has on European communities. Under the guise of freedom of expression, the crisis has given rise to a furore of racist, xenophobic and aggressive nationalist statements."

It added that international human rights law, and basic principles of humanity and decency, demanded these people be treated with respect. The "Connect from the heart" initiative calls for action both online and offline. Rather being used as a tool to express hatred, the online challenge asks the public to use social media to fight hate speech.

The march will start at 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) at City Gate in Valletta. Endit