The president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, acknowledged that there has been a "misuse" of the Anti-Hate Law and indicated that it is "very likely" that this regulation, identified as a tool for political persecution, will be submitted for reform in Parliament.
During the debate that culminated in the final approval of the Amnesty Law, Rodríguez stated that the Constitutional Law Against Hate, for Peaceful Coexistence and Tolerance is “very useful,” but he acknowledged that “there were situations of misuse” that “need to be corrected.”
According to the statement, the Program for Democratic Coexistence is currently "studying the scope" of the legal instrument and could promote its modification in the National Assembly. This program and the oversight commission of the Amnesty Law would be responsible for its correction.
The regulation was approved in November 2017 by the Constituent National Assembly established by chavismo, following months of political crisis and anti-government protests. It establishes penalties of up to 20 years in prison for so-called "hate crimes" and includes, among other measures, the possibility of revoking the registration of political parties and organizations that, in the opinion of the State, promote "fascism, intolerance, or hatred."
Since its enactment, the mentioned regulation has been questioned by human rights organizations and opposition sectors, which see it as part of a strict control and censorship apparatus.
In 2023, the NGO Espacio Público denounced that it was used as a tool "to persecute individuals for uncomfortable or critical expressions against certain sectors of power," while the Unidad Platform has described it as part of a "repressive legal framework."
Rodríguez's statements came in the context of the approval of the Amnesty Law, which provides benefits for individuals accused of offenses related to political events that occurred since 2002, although it excludes crimes such as serious human rights violations, intentional homicide, and armed actions against the country's sovereignty.
The announcement of a possible reform of the Law Against Hate is thus added to the measures adopted by the government in the political and governmental shift that occurred after the U.S. military intervention and the removal of dictator Nicolás Maduro on January 3rd.
The Cuban regime, the ideological mentor of Chavista Venezuela, has frequently used the term "haters" to stigmatize and suppress expressions of dissent or political opposition.
Regulations such as Decree-Law 370, which treats as a crime the “dissemination, through public data transmission networks, of information contrary to social interest, morality, good customs, and the integrity of individuals”; or the criminal charge of “Propaganda against the constitutional order,” as outlined in the Island's Penal Code, have been applied to opponents, activists, journalists, or ordinary citizens who protest against the dictatorship.
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