Venezuela’s leader admits to ‘abusive’ use of anti-hate law

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez admitted on Tuesday that the country's anti-hate law was misused to jail dozens of political critics. The admission came after pressure from the United States, which has long advocated for political reforms in Venezuela.

Over the past decade, numerous political leaders, activists, journalists, protesters, and influencers have been charged with "incitement to hatred" under the law, which carries sentences of 10 to 20 years in prison. Rodriguez, who succeeded Nicolas Maduro as president in January following a U.S.-backed military intervention, promoted an amnesty that has released hundreds of political prisoners convicted under this law.

Despite her advocacy for the law's original purpose, Rodriguez acknowledged on Tuesday that it was "abused." She emphasized her belief in the law's principles of tolerance and love, hoping that people could coexist without hatred. The NGO Foro Penal reported that 324 political prisoners remain incarcerated.

Rodriguez suggested that the National Assembly reform the law during her meeting with coffee producers in Portuguesa state, in the west of the country. The opposition delegation responded by expressing solidarity with those wrongfully convicted and demanding the law's repeal. A parliamentary commission was formed to draft reforms, while non-governmental organizations called for the law's total abolition.

Human Rights Watch strongly recommended the repeal of the anti-hate law and other similar measures following its most recent visit to Venezuela in nearly two decades.