Abstract:

It is generally acknowledged that freedom of expression is a foundational human right of the greatest importance. As well as other human rights, freedom of speech have stemmed from the inherent dignity of man as a member of the community of human kind. It shows a key function to the protection of all human rights, and fundemental to human dignity in its own right. Notwithstanding it is also globally recognised that it is not an absolute right, and every democracy has develeoped some system of limitations on freedom of expression. As freedom of expression and this freedom’s limitations also are one of the most important factors determining whether a society is democratic or not. Limitations about freedom of speech must be formulated in a way that makes clear that its sole purpose is to protect individuals holding specific beliefs or opinions, rather than to protect belief systems from criticism. The right to freedom of expression implies that it should be possible to scrutinize, openly debate, and criticize, even harshly and unreasonably, every faith, opinions and institutions, as long as this does not amount to hate speech, violence and obscene speechs against an individual. But this does not mean that it should be provoked to “harsh” and “unreasonable”.

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