Government will be ruthless against anyone who jeopardises national unity and social cohesion and remains resolute in its determination to ensure that Mauritius continues to be a peaceful, inclusive and harmonious society. Any new measure must remain proportionate and consistent with constitutional protection for freedom of expression.
This was the gist of the reply of the Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, today at the National Assembly, to a question on measures being taken across the law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies for the monitoring and prevention of racial hate speech, including online, while balancing effective content regulation with freedom of expression.
National unity and social cohesion, stated Prime Minister Ramgoolam, constitute the very foundation of the Republic highlighting that Mauritius has long been recognised as a plural, democratic and multicultural nation where diversity is a source of strength.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to preserving this legacy and to ensuring that every Mauritian, irrespective of race, religion, ethnicity, language or social background, feels equally respected, protected and included.
The Prime Minister further highlighted that Mauritius has a robust legal framework to address incitement to racial hatred, including Section 282 of the Criminal Code as well as constitutional provisions against racial discrimination. He also referred to the role of the Equal Opportunities Commission and Tribunal in addressing complaints of discrimination including discrimination in employment or discrimination by victimisation.
Dr Ramgoolam emphasised that the enforcement of these laws rests with the competent authorities, including the Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Courts, which determine whether an act constitutes incitement to racial hatred or falls within the constitutional protection of freedom of expression.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam reiterated that Government’s objective is to protect the country’s social fabric while relying on the responsibility of one and all. “But we must acknowledge that we face numerous challenges, especially when radicalisation sets in, in the minds of a few, those who still do not realise that the freedom of expression stops at the door of the freedom of others and the baseline of a peaceful diverse society is the absolute necessity to respect the views of other people’s religion, other people and lifestyle”, he underscored.
14 July 2026
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