site.btaCitizens with Bulgarian Identity in North Macedonia Most Affected by Hate Speech on Social Networks

Reports of discrimination to the Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination in the Republic of North Macedonia have tripled this year, and the most affected by hate speech on social networks are citizens with Bulgarian identity and representatives of the LGBTI community, the chairman of the country's anti-discrimination commission, Ismail Kamberi, said in an interview on TV 24.

In his words, hate speech is not defined in the legislation as an independent form of discrimination, and according to the law under which the Commission works, the complainant must specify the person against whom he or she is filing the complaint and his or her address, which is often impossible when it comes to social networks, where there are many fake profiles, some of which are registered outside the country.

According to Kamberi, there is no pressure on the work of the Commission and there is normal communication and cooperation with its counterpart in Bulgaria, which will probably be formalised next year.