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	ONLINE hate speech is on the rise and now amounts to more than 10pc of all racism cases reported to the Immigrant Council of Ireland.</h2>
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		In the past 12 months, online hate speech has accounted for 11 of 100 racism cases reported to the council.</p>
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		Incidents reported include abuse through posts on social media and disturbing pictures and posts on right-wing websites.</p>
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		The council has compiled a dossier of offensive and disturbing posts directed at non-Irish nationals. The majority of the complaints are against one website in particular which has a forum where users post offensive, racist content.</p>
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		Denise Charlton, chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, said cyber racism had a significant impact on online users.</p>
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		&quot;Individuals, even though they were not always targeted directly, reported that they felt upset, distressed and horrified by the language used on the internet,&quot; she said.</p>
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		The figures on online hate were released by the council to coincide with the European Day for the Victims of Hate today.</p>
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		The council is joining campaigners across Europe to mark the second anniversary of the massacre of 77 people in attacks in Oslo and Utoya Island, perpetrated by&nbsp;<a href="http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Anders_Behring_Breivik" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;">Anders Behring Breivik</a>, by calling for firm action against hate speech.</p>
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		&quot;The use of websites, social media and blogs to spread hate is a challenge which Ireland and Europe ignores at their peril,&quot; said Ms Charlton.</p>
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		&quot;The events in&nbsp;<a href="http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Norway" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;">Norway</a>&nbsp;two years ago today sent shockwaves across the continent, yet still the internet is being abused by those whose only message is of hate.</p>
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		&quot;<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/growth-of-cyber-racism-ignored-at-our-peril-29437516.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/growth-of-cyber-racism-ignored-at-our-peril-29437516.html</a></p>
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