A NEW draft Penal Code now under its second reading in parliament no longer contains the article on the "defamation of nation, race, and belief". However, it introduces some new crimes, like "disturbing the practicing of religion," the daily SME wrote.
Justice Minister Daniel Lipšic of the Christian Democratic Movement wants to have the defamation article erased in the "name of free speech".
According to the daily, Lipšic said that the state must not classify statements as right or wrong but rather give citizens the choice to freely decide.
The draft defines the crime under question as inciting national, racial, and ethnic hatred.
Zuzana Dulgošová of the Citizen and Democracy NGO said that Europe has based some of its restrictive laws on its historical experiences, which makes it different from the US concept of wide freedom of speech. European nations consider the spread of racially motivated statements and hatred very dangerous, she added.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
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