muju on Nostr: A former Mexican Congressman has been found guilty of "gender-based political ...

A former Mexican Congressman has been found guilty of "gender-based political violence" for his social media posts. Specifically, he referred to a transgender-identifying politician as "a man who self-ascribes as a woman." He has been convicted of "digital, symbolic, psychological, and sexual violence" for this.

The use of the terms "digital violence" and "symbolic violence" in the context of this case is indeed cause for alarm and concern. Criminalizing speech that is deemed offensive or controversial will continue to have devastating implications for free speech, which is foundational for democracy to function.

Limiting free speech in this way creates a slippery slope towards authoritarianism by giving the government and other powerful entities the ability to control what people can and cannot say. This ultimately leads to a chilling effect on public discourse, where individuals feel intimidated into silence on contentious issues for fear of criminal repercussions.

Using terms like "digital violence" and "symbolic violence" to describe speech is alarming, as it expands the definition of violence beyond physical harm to include subjective harm caused by words or ideas. This broadening of the definition of violence will have far-reaching implications for free speech and will lead to a situation where any speech deemed offensive or controversial is criminalized.

In the pursuit of fixing harm caused by discrimination and violence, it is important to ensure that free speech is not sacrificed in the process. Instead, we should strive to create a society where all voices can be heard, and where contentious issues can be discussed and debated openly and respectfully, without fear of criminal repercussions.

https://adfinternational.org/rodrigo-oas-assembly/