\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been said that this attack comes amidst a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia,\u201d wrote Mr Shanmugam, noting that the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said in a report released earlier this month that antisemitic incidents remain at \u201cunprecedentedly high levels\u201d. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know the precise causes and reasons for the attack in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut on many other occasions, hate speech has often been one underlying cause – it creates an environment more prone to violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd thus we have taken the position in Singapore, that we will not allow hate speech (and other conduct) targeted at any group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Shanmugam, who is also the home affairs minister, said Singapore has put in place tough laws on hate speech and conduct inciting violence or hatred.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistory shows us – through many incidents linked to race and religion – that hate speech has real and serious consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cHate speech denigrates one group. It suggests that the identified group is the source of problems. It dehumanises the group, eventually making violence against them justified,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n