Demonization and Hate Speech: Between Discourse and Practice

This word was delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the webinar organized by MECC under the title “Public Discourse in Wartime: Towards Dialogue to Reduce Hate”, as part of the “Light of Hope” initiative, on Wednesday 22 April 2026.

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

In an era where social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, negative phenomena have emerged with significant impacts on societies and individuals, the most dangerous of which are demonization and hate speech. These phenomena are not merely words on a screen or circulating images; they have a real capacity to alter our perceptions of others, create distorted stereotypes, and reinforce prejudices, leading to the emergence of violent and dangerous social behaviors.

Religions have addressed this phenomenon sternly and warned humanity against falling into this deadly trap, yet this scourge has accompanied humankind throughout history.

Demonization (dehumanization) is the process of turning a person or a group of people into beings considered less human—whether in rights, emotions, or moral value. In other words, when a certain group is treated as “less human,” it becomes easier for individuals or groups to exercise violence or discrimination against them because they are no longer seen as fully human.

Both ancient and modern history are full of examples of demonization, whether in wars, colonization, or periods of racial discrimination that afflicted many societies.

In wars, aggressor groups often use language that diminishes human value, labeling people as “monsters,” “mindless enemies,” “primitives”, or “backward”, which facilitates killing civilians or treating them mercilessly. During colonization, portraying colonized peoples as less intelligent or less cultured justified their exploitation and the plundering of their wealth. In the modern era, demonization appears online, where images, videos, or memes diminish the value of specific groups, whether for racial, gender, social, or political reasons.

Hate speech is any verbal, written, or visual expression aimed at inciting individuals to hate a person or group, or to attack them because of their identity, religion, race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, social class, or other characteristics. Hate speech is not limited to words alone; it includes images, symbols, and memes that carry messages insulting others, promoting rejection, or even inciting attacks. Such speech creates a toxic environment, increasing social divisions and weakening trust between different groups, ultimately undermining the social fabric.

There is a close relationship between demonization and hate speech. Demonization makes it easier to accept, and even justify, hate speech. Therefore, when a group is portrayed as “dangerous” or “less human,” society becomes more tolerant of verbal or physical aggression against them. This occurs, for example, when rumors depict a group as threatening society or lacking moral values, justifying violence or discrimination against them. This destructive cycle escalates violence, spreads racism, and fosters extremism on both individual and collective levels.

The causes of the spread of demonization and hate speech are multiple, including ignorance or lack of education and awareness, media misinformation, weak critical thinking, and social environments that tolerate discrimination. Online, algorithms play a major role in amplifying divisive content. These technologies make violent or controversial content more engaging, increasing its visibility and social acceptance, even among those who do not initially support it.

Addressing these phenomena involves multiple strategies: first, through education and awareness, promoting values of tolerance, respect, and critical thinking from childhood; second, combating misinformation, a crucial yet challenging task because false news often fuels hate speech and demonization; third, encouraging open dialogue among different groups to reduce stereotypes and misconceptions; and fourth, developing laws and regulations, enforcing strict penalties on hate speech and incitement to violence while maintaining a balanced approach to freedom of expression.

In conclusion, it must be emphasized that demonization and hate speech are not merely theoretical phenomena on social media; they have real effects on society, including increased hostility, deterioration of intergroup relationships, and undermining fundamental human values, all of which lead to violence. These sentiments are deeply rooted in human nature and threaten civil peace and social stability in affected communities. Addressing these issues is a collective responsibility requiring awareness, empathy, and sustained action to build a culture of acceptance, diversity, and difference, which fosters a more just and peaceful society.

In reflecting on the practical implications of these phenomena, it is essential to remember two significant historical events whose anniversaries fall this week: the Armenian Genocide and the kidnapping of the bishops of Aleppo.

The Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide occurred at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, when Armenian communities in the Ottoman Empire were subjected to organized and systematic violence, resulting in the killing and displacement of hundreds of thousands. They were subjected to various forms of torture, from famine to arbitrary detention. More than 1.5 million Armenians lost their lives, and millions more were forced to emigrate. The aim of these massacres and atrocities was to eliminate the Armenian presence in their historic lands and achieve demographic change by force. Systematic methods, such as mass executions, forced marches into the desert, and confiscation of property, were employed. This constituted an act of ethnic cleansing in every sense of the term. Such acts were facilitated by demonization and accompanying hate speech, explaining the forms of violence, torture, and oppression endured by the Armenian people. These events shocked the world and shaped the collective memory of Armenians and humanity, laying the groundwork for the international recognition of these massacres as a genocide. Remembering the Armenian massacres is not merely documenting the past but serves as an ongoing warning of the dangers of demonization, hate speech, and racism, and a call for peace, human rights, and the prevention of such crimes anywhere.

The Kidnapping of the Bishops of Aleppo
The kidnapping of Bishops Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi represents a crime that shook the Christian community in Syria and the Antiochian Levant. It reflects the difficult circumstances faced by religious leaders and communities in conflict zones, where clergy become targets of armed groups for political or financial reasons or to intimidate the local community. Beneath the surface, these acts are fueled by stereotypes surrounding church leaders, which expose them to demonization and hate speech. The kidnapping affected not only the individuals but the entire church, creating fear and anxiety among believers and in northern Syria generally, given the bishops’ respected status among various community groups.

International intervention and humanitarian organizations are essential to ensure the release of those kidnapped or forcibly absented and to hold the perpetrators accountable. It must also be emphasized that any kidnapping results from hate speech targeting the individual or their group. This underscores the importance of community solidarity and dialogue among different parties to protect human rights, ensure safety for people of all affiliations, prevent stereotyping, and halt demonization. Only then can the religious and cultural fabric of conflict-affected communities be preserved, maintaining civil peace and social cohesion.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches has launched a program, as part of its dialogue and social cohesion initiatives, for the protection of human dignity and the safeguarding of social capital, to combat demonization and hate speech. The program will hold its first international conference before the end of the year in Egypt.

The path is long, the challenges many, and in this work, we draw inspiration from the Incarnate Lord, seeing Him standing among the crowds on the mountain, saying to them:
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

The challenge of love remains the greatest challenge of all!