The right to respect for religious feelings in the light of the Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

Abstract

This article is devoted to the right to respect for religious feelings, which is a derivative of freedom of religion. In the light of the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, the protection of religious feelings constitutes a value that justifies the restriction of freedom of speech. The law protects the feelings of believers primarily from statements that are gratuitously offensive. The concept of gratuitous offensiveness is interpreted relatively narrowly, and therefore expressions that are shocking, controversial, critical of religion or questioning dogmas, are fully allowed and within the limits of freedom of speech. The most appropriate form of protection of religious feelings are civil law sanctions, while criminal sanctions should apply only as a last resort in the case of statements calling for violence or leading to a serious disturbance of public order.