Kommentator skriver i fremtrædende avis, at “jeg hader homoseksualitet helt ind til marven” og beskylder homoseksuelle for at udføre “sataniske gerninger”- udløser læserstorm til avisen
The Times Sunday, an independent newspaper in Swaziland, has angered its readers after allowing one of its regular columnists to write hate speech against homosexuals, writes Swaziland Newsletter in its latest issue on Friday.
Readers called on the editor of the paper to account for why he allowed the article to be published.
Qalakaliboli Dlamini, who writes for the paper each week, proudly proclaimed himself to be ‘homophobic’, as he declared, ‘I hate homosexuality with every fibre of hair or flesh in my body.’ He said homosexuals performed ‘satanic deeds’ and were an ‘abomination’ (afskyelighed/pestilens).
Dlamini wrote 1.500 words in his column attacking homosexuals as a reaction to the recently-published Behavioral Surveillance Survey of Swaziland which reported the views of 324 gay men in the kingdom.
Dlamini’s article allegledly breaks the rules of Times of Swaziland group of newspapers, of which the Times Sunday is a member.
Rules for contributors to the Times’ website state, ‘Comments that contain racist, sexist or homophobic remarks—or that may be interpreted as such—won’t be’ published.’
Readers who contacted the Times via its website condemned Dlamini’s article.
One reader wrote, ‘The editor must answer to his readers as to why he allowed this article to be published. In fact he should question why Mr Dlamini’s badly researched, ill thought out and poorly written articles continue to be published at all. He is an embarrassment to a proper newspaper.’
Another reader called the article ‘utter bigotry’ (snæversyn/fanatisme) and ‘shameful’. Yet another called Dlamini ‘shallow minded’ and ‘pathetic’ (ynkelig).
Dlamini’s article breaks the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) code of ethical conduct on hate speech, which states, ‘Journalists shall avoid by all means the publication of speech that might promote hatred, spite and conflict amongst the Swazi or any other nation.’
Hate speech is a type of speech or writing which can do any of the following:
deliberately offend, degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against someone based on their race, ethnicity, profession, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
It can be aimed at an individual; or racial, ethnic, religious or other group. Such speech generally seeks to condemn or dehumanize the individual or group; or express anger, hatred, violence or contempt toward them.
Strammer grebet om pressen
Meanwhile, The Swaziland Government has been accused of trying to close down the press with the publication of a new Bill to bar public servants from disclosing any information about their work that relates to ‘public policy’.
They will also be prevented from talking about the economic strategy of the kingdom.
The new Public Service Bill also states civil servants must not ‘publish in any manner anything which may be reasonably regarded as of a political or administrative nature’.
The Bill was published earlier this month and is due to be debated in parliament before being signed into law by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.
Quinton Dlamini, President of the public service union NAPSAWU, said the Bill was, ‘nonsense because it’s difficult to draw the line on information that is confidential or not’.
He told local media, that “it means we will not know what is happening in government. In short, they are closing down the press. It means everything has to come out through the Government Press Secretary.’
He said the media would find it difficult to break stories because government would demand that journalists divulge (afslører) sources of information.
Part of the Bill reads, ‘Whether on duty or on leave of absence, a public officer shall not (except with due authority) allow oneself to be interviewed on questions of, or connecting with any matter affecting or relating to public policy, security or strategic economic interests or resources of Swaziland.’
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News from and about Swaziland is compiled by Africa Contact, Denmark (www.afrika.dk) in collaboration with Swazi Media Commentary (www.swazimedia.blogspot.com), and sent to all with an interest in Swaziland – free of charge.
