KATHMANDU, June 16: Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Khushbu Oli has lodged a complaint with Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau against individuals accused of abusing, defaming, threatening and spreading hate speech against her through social media.
Oli said she filed the complaint after facing what she described as a coordinated online attack following issues she raised in Parliament. She also informed that the Cyber Bureau has already arrested one individual and initiated legal proceedings.
Warning that she would adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward threats, violent remarks and online abuse, Oli said such behavior on social media cannot be accepted under any circumstances.
Nepal in the Emerging Cyber Warfront
In a social media post, she wrote:
"For the past several weeks, organized attacks, abusive language, character assassination and hateful expressions have continuously appeared on social media in response to issues of public concern that I raised in Parliament. The number of people involved grew from hundreds to thousands. I received rape threats, death threats and threats of physical assault through my personal mobile phone and Messenger. Today, I formally filed complaints against several dozen individuals at Nepal Police's Cyber Bureau. One person has already been arrested and is facing legal proceedings.
"Citizens are free to criticize my views, opinions or political positions as harshly as they wish. Disagreement is natural in a democracy. But I cannot accept threats, hate speech, abuse, character assassination, incitement to violence and harassment through social media.
"I want to clearly warn everyone who uploads content about me, comments, shares posts or spreads hatred on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Facebook: you still have time to remove such content. Otherwise, be prepared to face legal action starting today. I will maintain zero tolerance toward online abuse, threats and hateful expressions.
"Today, thousands of citizens, both women and men, are forced to silently endure hate speech, abuse, threats and character assassination on social media. When such behavior is tolerated, those responsible become more encouraged and their lawlessness spreads further. We must not normalize hateful disorder on social media. In the name of freedom of expression, hate, incitement to violence and abuse cannot be accepted.
"This legal and responsible step may appear small today, but it can contribute to making society more civilized, safer and more accountable in the future. Sending a message of zero tolerance toward the growing culture of hatred and disorder on social media is also our social and moral responsibility.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Home Minister and the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police for taking this sensitive issue seriously and initiating the necessary action."
