Hate Speech Amidst The War: Decoding US VS. Them Paralogism by Dr. Mujtaba Arman

07:20 PM November, 30 2023

Sudanese Online
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The primary objective of this article is to pinpoint the centrality of the social media platforms in spreading of the hate speech among Sudanese people during the war. It also tries to reveal some of the techniques used to demonize those who call to put an end to the disastrous war since its inception. The modern social media platforms are playing a key role in inciting and prolonging the violence. Different media platforms gave hints, and instructions to the warring parties to continue fighting. Various modern media platforms, such as the Whatsup, Facebook, and Twitter amplified fear among Sudanese people. Distracting the public, distraction by scapegoating, distortion of true version of the truth, and straw man fallacy are the

primary techniques of the media used in inciting violence and prolonging the war.

The utilization of the art, and the media during wars, of course, in human history is not a new phenomenon. Historically speaking, the Nazi regime in 1933 made the art work in accordance with the Nazist objectives. The government made an eradication plan for the cultural institutiins under political claims. Works of great artists were burnt, and war narratives were consolidated so as to prepare people for the war. Opponents were featured enormously in the Nazi Propaganda as enemies of the people. Joseph Goebbels used the various forms of the media, for instance, television, films, newspapers, and sculptures so as to reach as many people as possible. Hitler had been depicted as a strong and a great man that the country in need of him to become a great power. Goebbels was appointed Reich Minister of Propaganda, and the image of Hitler became 'The Hitler Myth'.

Recently, the Political Islam forces seized the power via a coup d'é·tat in 1989, and ruled the country by the iron fist or through the edge of the sword and

money . In the same vein, the regime exploited the media to establish the ideology of the new ruling - class of islamists. Different forms of the media were used to wage the war in Sudan. Many media men, and women who are not affiliated to the new regime were laid off. Sadly enough, a restrict code of an 'Islamic' dress was imposed on those who worked in Sudan's 'National' Television. A television program was entirety devoted to encourage youth to take part in the war in South Sudan then against the 'infidels', and the 'pagans'. Undoubtedly, there's a causal connection between the printed and non-printed words, and words on the air and the violence on the ground. Inflammatory rhetoric, and extremist views had damaged the social fabric, and spread hatred between different segments of the Sudanese people. Jokingly, a radio program, the political talk, presented by a military man, Younis Mohamoud, was directed to spread hatred,and damaged Sudan's diplomatic ties with the neighborung countries in particular Suadia Arabia whose King, Fahad, then was nicknamed 'AL-Fahad El-Murawad ' the demosticated cheetah'. Albeit Suadia Arabia has maintained a balanced relationship towards Sudan. The Sudanese media which was a one-sided view

glorified the tyrant, Omer AL-Bashir, 'The Lion of Africa' the same way the Nazi Propaganda called Hitler 'The Myth'.

Meticulously, in this war, the defunct elements of the old regime, worked behind the curtains, pulling the puppet strings to add fuel to the ongoing war in the country through a number of media techniques. Namely, presenting a distorted version of the primary causes of the war via the use of various social media platforms, such as the Facebook, WhatsApp, and voice messages. Before the start of the war on 15th of April, the defunct elements of the old regime prepared the stage for the war. In a Ramadan Breakfast one of the speakers of the Islamic Movement or the dissolved National Congress Party , Anas Omer, swore to God that there would be no a Framework Accord inked between the Forces of the Freedom and Change and the coup detat leadership except on our dead bodies. The Forces of the Freedom and Change were named the 'agents of embassies' excessively, and demonized.

On the other hand, simplification and

oversimplification, and exaggeration as media techniques are used excessively during this war. The conflict in Sudan is a political in nature. It is between the oppressed, and the oppressors. Consequently, a peaceful negotiable solution is the lesser cost for all Sudanese people. The defunct elements of the old regime called for the establishment of the 'Sea State', versus the ' the River State' which is oversimplification of the national comprehensive crisis in Sudan. The straw man fallacy as a media technique to distort the reality is also used in the war in which the war supporters gave a false picture of the gross human rights violations committed by the warring parties. Lastly, distraction by the scapegoat is also used to conceal the real causes of the war. The Forces of Freedom and Change was scapegoated by the defunct elements of the old regime to be the party behind the war. Indeed, the conflict in Sudan is over the Political power, and wealth. The old regime is pushing to maintain the economic, political, and power privileges, and the oppressive state apparatus while the December Revolution's Youths are trying to build a new Sudan on the pillars of justice, freedom, and peace.

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