Nowadays, they talk a lot about inciting ethnic hatred in the world and in individual countries. The legislative bodies of states continually amend their Criminal Code, increasing responsibility for such actions. Constantly someone is being arrested, criminal cases are being instituted. On the basis of inciting ethnic hatred, murders and other crimes are committed. Let's try to figure out what is really happening.
First, you need to define the term. The incitement of ethnic hatred - these are actions that are aimed at inciting interracial and ethnic hatred. In all civilized countries, they are considered criminal, and criminal cases are brought against individuals suspected of such. Now consider in more detail.
For example, the Russian state recognizes incitement of ethnic hatred as a crime against the security of the country, as well as against the foundations of the political system. Clear and clear. An article of the Constitution of the Russian Federation warns its citizens and all those living on the territory of the country that it is impossible to agitate and promote everything that leads to hostility on ethnic, racial, social, national and religious grounds. The Penal Code establishes penalties for such acts. So, for inciting ethnic hatred, article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for a fine, deprivation of certain activities (up to 3 years), compulsory labor (up to 108 hours), correctional labor (up to 1 year), or imprisonment (up to 2 years) . As you can see, in Russia such actions are considered illegal.
What is the attitude of the world towards inciting ethnic hatred? In the German Penal Code, for everyone who incites hatred, directing it against a certain part of the population, supports the incitement of social hatred, ridicules one or another part of the population, it can be punished with up to 5 years in prison. Everything here is much stricter than in Russia.
France, Denmark, the Netherlands and the same Germany has legislation that provides for conviction for various statements aimed at inciting ethnic hatred, or any other. And it doesn’t matter if there was intent or possible consequences. Here's an eloquent example: in France, the editor of a newspaper was convicted, who published a vicious anti-Semitic article. The defendant wanted to defend himself by allegedly publishing information without reading it, and he had no intention of inciting hatred. However, this did not help him.
France has also amended the Criminal Code to the effect that one cannot even deny or question the genocide of Jews by the Nazis. This, regardless of the intent of the perpetrator, is a crime. Many consider this approach to be sticking, but the fact remains. Maybe when scientists can read more thoughts, then appropriate amendments will be made. Who knows what to expect in the future.
We go further around the globe. Other countries have similar legislation. In Ireland, for example, to commit a crime motivated by ethnic hatred, it is enough to use a threatening, offensive, or insulting expression that will cause hatred or fear among part of the population. And in Israel, for a publication that, one way or another, refers to racism, you can get a prison sentence of up to 5 years. But for the storage and distribution of articles that are prohibited by law as exciting racism, you will have to spend 1 year in prison. India, too, has not lagged behind the whole world. If you are recognized here as the instigator of intercommunal hatred, then the punishment will not be long in coming, but this is a conclusion for up to 5 years.
In conclusion, let us consider how things are in the USA. Here, unlike other countries, the courts interpret freedom of speech in a wide range. This creates a serious obstacle to criminal liability for such actions. As the courts in the United States admit, restricting freedom of speech is permissible only in cases where there is a threat of illegal acts and all other measures are ineffective. Here the Nazis, dressed in swastika uniforms, march through the streets of Chicago, where the Jews who survived the Holocaust live. And there is no violation, because everyone has the right to freedom of speech.