(Berlin)- On 26th November 2019, on the sidelines of the 14th Internet Governance Forum held in Berlin from 25 to 29 of the same month, the founding body of the MENA Network for Countering Hate Speech held a meeting attended by the following founding organizations: the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR), Maharat Foundation, and Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM).

The meeting discussed all items on its agenda in terms of endorsing the Network’s Rules of Procedure, taking necessary decisions on the officially registration of the Network, and building up relationships with all local, regional, and international institutions concerned. It is noteworthy to mention that it has been decided to include HUMINA from Egypt to the list of founding organizations.

According to the rules of procedure, each founding member was assigned with specific task, as follow:

President: Mr. Mousa Rimawi, Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA).

Treasurer: Mrs. Roula Mikhael, Maharat Foundation.

Public Relations: Mr. Khalid Ibrahim, Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR).

Secretary: Mrs. Yara Bader, Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM).

Media: Mr. Mustafa Fuad, Humina.

Attendees made a joint appeal to all those interested in combating hate speech in the Middle East and North Africa region to support the Network and its efforts to promote civil peace and social cohesion in the region whose situations are deteriorating and becoming much complex.