Freedom of religion and freedom of expression: Religiously offensive speech and International Human Rights

Abstract

Religiously offensive speech is an issue of considerable controversy, both internationally and in many religiously diverse countries. I address the topic in this paper from the perspective of international human rights norms. I show that the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and nondiscrimination do not provide protections against insensitive, insulting, or even blasphemous speech. To prohibit speech because it is disrespectful to one or more religions in effect imposes the particular religious views of some on others, thus denying not only freedom of expression but also freedom of belief or religion, and thus the basic equality, autonomy, and dignity of those whose speech is restricted.