[GatestoneInstitute]  ECRI's
| the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance |
monitoring of Switzerland, since its first report about the country was published in 1998, is an illustrative example of the organization's persistent efforts -- and considerable success -- over the past two decades in limiting free speech in Europe.
Already in its first report on Switzerland, in 1998, ECRI -- despite admitting that "a decrease in manifestations of racism and intolerance has been noted over the last 2-3 years" and that "overt manifestations of [racial prejudices and xenophobia] are rather rare," told the Swiss media to promote specific narratives...
"ECRI is concerned that a climate of intolerance or xenophobia towards non-citizens and those who are different from the native Swiss population appears to persist". No substantial documentation was offered as basis for the allegation -- ECRI even criticized in the same report that "little information is systematically collected in Switzerland regarding the extent of racism and discrimination" -- but none seemed to be needed, as ECRI's motivation appeared to be political...
Throughout the years, ECRI has stressed the media's central role in promoting specific, politicized agendas.
ECRI noted that Swiss journalists already have a code in place that states that they "must avoid any allusion by text, image or sound to a person's ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation as well as to any illness or physical or mental handicap that could be discriminatory in character."
As for the Internet, ECRI noted that Swiss authorities had informed the organization that they were "seeking cooperation with relevant Internet service providers to improve the identification of authors of hate speech and to have such content removed as quickly as possible..."
ECRI has done a good job helping Europeans kill free speech. |