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37 U. Tas. L. Rev. 89 (2018)
Atrocity Speech Law: Foundation, Fragmentation, Fruition

handle is hein.journals/utasman37 and id is 95 raw text is: Book Review - Atrocity Speech Law: Foundation, Fragmentation, Fruition Gregory S Gordon Oxford University Press, 2017, pp 464, ISBN 978-19-612689 Gregory S Gordon's Atrocity Speech Law examines the role of rhetoric and media in crimes of international concern.' The photograph of Joseph Goebbels at a rally adorning the book's cover is a chilling and effective reminder of the power of public speech as a catalyst for unspeakable atrocities. The work has particular relevance at a time when hate speech, and atrocities, are ongoing around the world. This has been appallingly demonstrated by the role of social media platforms in atrocities against the Rohingya in Myanmar.2 The book builds upon Gordon's experience as part of the prosecution team in the Media Case before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.3 Atrocity Speech Law critiques the current law for inadequately proscribing rhetoric encouraging genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Gordon proposes to reform the law into a new liability framework - 'Unified Liability Theory' - which targets this rhetoric more effectively. By the term 'atrocity speech', Gordon means rhetoric encouraging atrocity.' He coins the term 'atrocity speech law' to describe the International Criminal Law ('ICL') touching upon atrocity speech, particularly in two areas: directly and publicly inciting others to commit genocide ('incitement'),5 and hate speech as persecution - a crime against humanity ('persecution').6 Previous literature has examined these two areas of ICL.' However, Gordon goes further than these authors in three respects: he details the history of this body of law, proposes ideas for reform and examines the failure of the Law of Armed Conflict to address atrocity speech. The book therefore forms an original contribution to the literature. i Gregory S Gordon, Atrocity Speech Law (Oxford University Press, 2017). 2 See, eg, Libby Hogan and Michael Safi, 'Revealed: Facebook Hate Speech Exploded in Myanmar During Rohingya Crises', The Guardian (online), 3 April 2018 <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/03/revealed-facebook-hate-speech- exploded-in-myanmar-during-rohingya-crisis>. Prosecutor v Nahimana (Judgement and Sentence) (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Case No ICTR-99-52-T, 3 December 2003) ('Media Case'). Gordon, above n 1, 5. Rome Statute ofthe International Criminal Court, opened for signature 17 June 1998, 2187 UNTS 90 (entered into force 1 July 2002) art 25(3Xe) ('Rome Statute'). Rome Statute art 7(lXh). See, eg, Wibke Timmermann, Incitement in International Law (Routledge, 2014); Predrag Dojainovid (ed) Propaganda, War Crimes Trials and International Law: From Speakers' Corner to War Crimes (Routledge, 2012).

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