PETITION DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED HATE SPEECH, INCITEMENT, HARASS
The Issue
To:
YouTube Trust & Safety Team
Google LLC
Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook and Instagram)
United States Department of State
African Union Commission
Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) Monitoring and Implementation Mechanisms
European Commission
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ Africa)
United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression and Minority Issues
International Human Rights and Press Freedom Organizations
Subject:
Request for Independent Investigation Into Alleged Hate Speech, Incitement, Harassment, Defamation, and Threats Against Civilians, Journalists, Elders, Teachers, Activists, and Peace Advocates in Tigray and Ethiopia
We, the undersigned concerned citizens, human rights advocates, survivors of conflict, members of civil society, and supporters of peace and reconciliation, respectfully urge YouTube, Google, Facebook, and the international community to launch an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into allegations concerning several media outlets and affiliated commentators operating through social media and digital broadcasting platforms.
The media outlets that have raised substantial public concern include:
Zara Media
Dedebit Media
Tigray Press
Tigrai Online
Microphone Media
BASIS OF THIS PETITION
The people of Tigray have endured one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent African history. Communities continue to suffer from displacement, trauma, economic collapse, lack of medicine, food insecurity, destruction of infrastructure, and the lingering consequences of armed conflict.
In this fragile post-conflict environment, media institutions possess immense influence over public opinion, public safety, social cohesion, and prospects for peace.
Instead of contributing to healing and reconciliation, serious concerns have emerged that certain media actors may be using digital platforms to spread inflammatory rhetoric, intensify social divisions, target civilians, and suppress peaceful dissent.
Numerous citizens, activists, teachers, journalists, elders, women, and community leaders have reported being publicly vilified, stigmatized, threatened, or subjected to coordinated campaigns of harassment after expressing peaceful criticism regarding governance failures, corruption, unpaid salaries, humanitarian suffering, accountability, or peace efforts.
ALLEGED PATTERNS OF CONDUCT REQUIRING INVESTIGATION
Petitioners urge investigators to review whether content disseminated through the above-referenced outlets has contributed to:
Hate speech directed at civilians and political dissenters;
Incitement against individuals exercising their right to free expression;
Harassment and intimidation campaigns targeting critics;
Defamation and character assassination against journalists, elders, activists, and community members;
Calls for the detention, punishment, persecution, or silencing of peaceful critics;
Dehumanizing language used against individuals or groups;
Dissemination of inflammatory war propaganda capable of increasing tensions and instability;
Coordinated efforts to suppress independent voices through fear and intimidation;
Online conduct that may violate platform policies governing targeted harassment, hate speech, incitement, and harmful content.
Particular concern has been raised regarding allegations that elderly individuals, including a 76-year-old woman who publicly voiced concerns regarding governance and justice issues, were subjected to public ridicule, stigmatization, and calls for punitive action after exercising their right to peaceful expression.
No elderly citizen, journalist, teacher, mother, student, activist, or community member should face threats, intimidation, or public persecution for speaking peacefully.
REQUEST TO YOUTUBE, GOOGLE, AND META
We respectfully demand that YouTube, Google, Facebook, and Instagram:
Conduct an immediate and independent review of the content produced and distributed through the above-mentioned media outlets.
Assess whether any content violates platform policies regarding:
Hate speech;
Harassment and bullying;
Incitement to violence;
Coordinated harassment campaigns;
Dangerous organizations and individuals;
Threats and intimidation.
Preserve relevant records and content pending review.
Increase transparency regarding enforcement actions where violations are identified.
Take appropriate corrective measures consistent with platform policies and international human rights standards.
APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
We further call upon:
The United States Department of State
To monitor allegations of digital incitement, intimidation, and attacks on civic freedoms in the Horn of Africa and support efforts that protect peaceful democratic participation.
The African Union and CoHA Monitoring Mechanisms
To investigate whether inflammatory media narratives are undermining peacebuilding efforts, reconciliation initiatives, and implementation of post-conflict agreements.
The European Commission
To support independent monitoring of digital hate speech and threats directed at vulnerable civilian populations.
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and CPJ Africa
To document and investigate allegations involving:
Attacks on freedom of expression;
Harassment of journalists and activists;
Intimidation of critics;
Digital campaigns that may contribute to fear, repression, or social instability.
OUR CALL
We are not asking for censorship of lawful journalism, political debate, or legitimate criticism.
We are asking for accountability.
We are asking for transparency.
We are asking for the protection of civilians.
We are asking that social media platforms not become instruments through which vulnerable communities are threatened, intimidated, dehumanized, or silenced.
The people of Tigray deserve peace.
The people of Ethiopia deserve peace.
Survivors of conflict deserve protection.
Freedom of expression must be safeguarded, but it must never be weaponized to encourage hatred, intimidation, persecution, or fear.
We therefore respectfully request an immediate investigation and public review of the concerns outlined in this petition.
Respectfully Submitted,
Concerned Citizens, Human Rights Advocates, Civil Society Organizations, Survivors of Conflict, Journalists, Educators, Community Leaders, and Supporters of Peace, Justice, Human Dignity, and Reconciliation.
31
The Issue
To:
YouTube Trust & Safety Team
Google LLC
Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook and Instagram)
United States Department of State
African Union Commission
Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) Monitoring and Implementation Mechanisms
European Commission
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ Africa)
United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression and Minority Issues
International Human Rights and Press Freedom Organizations
Subject:
Request for Independent Investigation Into Alleged Hate Speech, Incitement, Harassment, Defamation, and Threats Against Civilians, Journalists, Elders, Teachers, Activists, and Peace Advocates in Tigray and Ethiopia
We, the undersigned concerned citizens, human rights advocates, survivors of conflict, members of civil society, and supporters of peace and reconciliation, respectfully urge YouTube, Google, Facebook, and the international community to launch an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into allegations concerning several media outlets and affiliated commentators operating through social media and digital broadcasting platforms.
The media outlets that have raised substantial public concern include:
Zara Media
Dedebit Media
Tigray Press
Tigrai Online
Microphone Media
BASIS OF THIS PETITION
The people of Tigray have endured one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in recent African history. Communities continue to suffer from displacement, trauma, economic collapse, lack of medicine, food insecurity, destruction of infrastructure, and the lingering consequences of armed conflict.
In this fragile post-conflict environment, media institutions possess immense influence over public opinion, public safety, social cohesion, and prospects for peace.
Instead of contributing to healing and reconciliation, serious concerns have emerged that certain media actors may be using digital platforms to spread inflammatory rhetoric, intensify social divisions, target civilians, and suppress peaceful dissent.
Numerous citizens, activists, teachers, journalists, elders, women, and community leaders have reported being publicly vilified, stigmatized, threatened, or subjected to coordinated campaigns of harassment after expressing peaceful criticism regarding governance failures, corruption, unpaid salaries, humanitarian suffering, accountability, or peace efforts.
ALLEGED PATTERNS OF CONDUCT REQUIRING INVESTIGATION
Petitioners urge investigators to review whether content disseminated through the above-referenced outlets has contributed to:
Hate speech directed at civilians and political dissenters;
Incitement against individuals exercising their right to free expression;
Harassment and intimidation campaigns targeting critics;
Defamation and character assassination against journalists, elders, activists, and community members;
Calls for the detention, punishment, persecution, or silencing of peaceful critics;
Dehumanizing language used against individuals or groups;
Dissemination of inflammatory war propaganda capable of increasing tensions and instability;
Coordinated efforts to suppress independent voices through fear and intimidation;
Online conduct that may violate platform policies governing targeted harassment, hate speech, incitement, and harmful content.
Particular concern has been raised regarding allegations that elderly individuals, including a 76-year-old woman who publicly voiced concerns regarding governance and justice issues, were subjected to public ridicule, stigmatization, and calls for punitive action after exercising their right to peaceful expression.
No elderly citizen, journalist, teacher, mother, student, activist, or community member should face threats, intimidation, or public persecution for speaking peacefully.
REQUEST TO YOUTUBE, GOOGLE, AND META
We respectfully demand that YouTube, Google, Facebook, and Instagram:
Conduct an immediate and independent review of the content produced and distributed through the above-mentioned media outlets.
Assess whether any content violates platform policies regarding:
Hate speech;
Harassment and bullying;
Incitement to violence;
Coordinated harassment campaigns;
Dangerous organizations and individuals;
Threats and intimidation.
Preserve relevant records and content pending review.
Increase transparency regarding enforcement actions where violations are identified.
Take appropriate corrective measures consistent with platform policies and international human rights standards.
APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
We further call upon:
The United States Department of State
To monitor allegations of digital incitement, intimidation, and attacks on civic freedoms in the Horn of Africa and support efforts that protect peaceful democratic participation.
The African Union and CoHA Monitoring Mechanisms
To investigate whether inflammatory media narratives are undermining peacebuilding efforts, reconciliation initiatives, and implementation of post-conflict agreements.
The European Commission
To support independent monitoring of digital hate speech and threats directed at vulnerable civilian populations.
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and CPJ Africa
To document and investigate allegations involving:
Attacks on freedom of expression;
Harassment of journalists and activists;
Intimidation of critics;
Digital campaigns that may contribute to fear, repression, or social instability.
OUR CALL
We are not asking for censorship of lawful journalism, political debate, or legitimate criticism.
We are asking for accountability.
We are asking for transparency.
We are asking for the protection of civilians.
We are asking that social media platforms not become instruments through which vulnerable communities are threatened, intimidated, dehumanized, or silenced.
The people of Tigray deserve peace.
The people of Ethiopia deserve peace.
Survivors of conflict deserve protection.
Freedom of expression must be safeguarded, but it must never be weaponized to encourage hatred, intimidation, persecution, or fear.
We therefore respectfully request an immediate investigation and public review of the concerns outlined in this petition.
Respectfully Submitted,
Concerned Citizens, Human Rights Advocates, Civil Society Organizations, Survivors of Conflict, Journalists, Educators, Community Leaders, and Supporters of Peace, Justice, Human Dignity, and Reconciliation.
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Petition created on June 18, 2026