Letter from Africa: Why Nigeria's hate speech bill is a jokes killer

in #jokes7 years ago

In our series of letters from African journalists, novelist and writer Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks at the fine line between hate speech and harmless stereotypes in Nigeria.

The Nigerian parliament is considering a bill under which anyone found guilty of "hate speech that results in the death of another person shall die by hanging upon conviction".

The law also seeks the establishment of an "Independent National Commission for Hate Speech", to enforce hate speech laws across the country, including jail terms and fines.

This is just the latest in a number of attempts to address what appears to be a rise in hate speech across Nigeria._100423565_poster976.jpg