As you know everybody who came to this planet has a right to speak, but do we actually have a right to speak with a bad intention in a world where anybody have a probability to get hurt? Free speech is a pillar of democracy. But in a world where words can divide nations, ruin lives, or hurt violence, where should we draw the line between freedom and harm?  Today we will draw a line between a free speech and a hate speech.

What is a free speech?

Freedom of expression is the right of individuals or groups to express their ideas and opinions without fear of censorship, legal sanctions or threats.and its called giving a free speech. Also it is essential to set up a healthy democracy in a country and a healthy democracy thrives on debate, dissent, and even disagreement. For example in the basic law of my country, Turkey, article 26 says: “Everyone has the right to express and disseminate their thoughts and opinions through speech, writing, pictures or other means.”

What is a hate speech?

Hate speech refers to speech that contains hateful, negative, and offensive language based on race, religion, gender, or orientation. In this context, I will also discuss the differences between the European Court of Human Rights and US law. According to the ECHR, while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, speech that "contains hate speech, calls for violence, or incites religious or ethnic hatred" can be restricted. The situation in the US is quite different. The First Amendment grants almost absolute freedom of expression. For example, even neo-Nazi marches in the US can be legally protected as "freedom of expression." However, it is undeniable that this approach fuels social polarization. At the same time, these discriminatory, exclusionary, or hateful words can instill feelings of trauma, anger, and humiliation in targeted groups.

In that case… where should we draw a line?

Does one person's freedom come at the expense of another? In a world already filled with hate, how rational is it to exercise our will and our right to speak in this way? Should freedom of thought come at the expense of public safety? In the words of Charlie Hebdo —freedom of expression or hate speech?

My opinion on this…

I believe everyone is free to exercise their own rights as long as they don't infringe on the rights of others, including, of course, the right to speech. And we need to draw the line precisely at the point where these freedoms are restricted. While setting these limits is actually the state's responsibility, we can still encounter problems in our daily lives that the state cannot control, and that require our own action. Like what? Bullying is similar to giving a hate speech in a way: both are destructive rather than constructive, and their purpose isn't to foster self-improvement, but to isolate an individual or a group from society. When faced with such behavior, we must stand strong, not bow to authority, and always stand with the right party.