COMPARATIVE VIEWS ON A PERMANENT CHALLENGE: HATE SPEECH SANCTIONING IN POLAND AND CROATIA

Freedom of expression is one the essential elements modern democratic states’ standard for basic civil rights and freedoms. It most often guaranteed in constitutions as well ratified acts European international law. Still, freedom speech not absolute, meaning certain situations it may be restricted to protect another legal value. A prominent example hate speech, a means spreading hatred, hostility violence towards person or particular group. closed book but widely regarded significant violation human rights. While there no doubt constitutes abuse, issue its sanctioning falls within controversial multifaceted challenges terms legislative regulation. The purpose this article compare Polish Croatian systems on issue. research will based comparative method, designed detect similarities, differences possible patterns subject area study determine variables affecting evaluation current developed policies responsibility sanctioning. specific solutions contained national constitutional positions, criminal law, misdemeanor related body doctrine selected case law show diversity approaches. can said that under consideration we are dealing with variants same general concept. results conducted analyses form basis further field amendment regulations punishment systems.