Bans and Restrictions on Religious Broadcasting: A Review of the Arguments and Counter-Arguments

The ownership of broadcast stations by religious groups, the establishment of broadcast stations exclusively devoted to religious content and the inclusion of content of a religious nature within the programming of regular commercial, public or community stations are all practices that are common throughout the world. However, several countries have implemented bans or restrictions on the dissemination of religious content through broadcasting or the ownership of broadcast stations by religious groups. The present article aims to assess whether such bans and restrictions are compatible with the rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression as recognized under international human rights law. For these purposes, the most common arguments in favour and against restrictions on religious broadcasting are explained and weighed against each other.