In a recent interview with the Christian Post, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) CEO Kristen Waggoner shared her concerns about legislation being proposed for Ireland. ADF is a legal non-profit dedicated to preserving religious freedom.

Ireland has recently been rocked by violent riots over the government’s immigration policies after an Algerian immigrant stabbed three children and a caregiver at a Catholic school

In response, the government is threatening to pass what it described as anti-hate legislation.

The Christian Post writes:

“I think that what we’re seeing happening in Ireland is a horrific tragedy and certainly demands that there be targeted government action about the specific issue at hand, but to resort to criminalizing free speech is chilling,” she [Waggoner] said, adding that she has “many concerns” about it and the impact it will have in Ireland.

The legislation would not only criminalize speech “likely to incite hatred or violence” but also merely possessing material that could. Hatred is broadly defined as “hatred against a person or a group of persons in the State or elsewhere on account of their protected characteristics or any one of those characteristics.” Among such characteristics are sexual orientation and “sex characteristics.”

Citing several examples, Waggoner stated that this is part of a growing trend around the world of governments censoring speech they do not approve of.

“And it’s not just a disregard for free speech; it’s an active targeting to silent speech by the government,” Waggoner warned.

READ: ADF head slams proposed Irish ‘hate speech’ law, warns of ‘global trend towards censorship’