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

CARACAS: Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez admitted on Tuesday that the country's anti-hate law had been abused, resulting in the arrest of numerous government critics over the past decade. Under the law, which carries prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years, dozens of political leaders, activists, journalists, protesters and influencers were accused of incitement to hatred.

Rodriguez, who assumed power in January after the US-backed ouster of President Nicolas Maduro, promoted an amnesty under pressure from Washington, releasing hundreds of political prisoners who had been convicted under this law. However, 324 political prisoners remain in custody, according to the NGO Foro Penal.

The amnesty comes after Rodriguez oversaw the passage of the anti-hate law in 2017 during her tenure as president of the Constituent Assembly. During a meeting with coffee producers in Portuguesa state, Rodriguez acknowledged that there had been an improper application of the law. Despite her admission, she still believes in the principles of tolerance and love that the law aims to uphold, hoping that hatred will not prevail but coexistence can be achieved.

Opposition lawmakers have called for the law's reform following US-sponsored political dialogue between the government and opposition. The reform seeks to move forward with the decriminalization of the conduct covered by the law. The opposition delegation expressed solidarity with the victims of the law's application and their families.

A parliamentary commission has been formed to work on reforms, while NGOs are demanding the law's complete repeal. Human Rights Watch has recommended the repeal of this and other similar laws following its first visit to the country in nearly two decades.