Aims

These resources help young people to think through the difficult issues and tensions between the right to free speech and the protection and respect of religious beliefs. They particularly address the requirement in 1g of the Citizenship curriculum for Key Stage 4, discussing the role of a free press in society and the role of the media.

They ask young people to think through the following issues:

• Why is free speech important?
• Can people say whatever they like about religious groups, or do religious groups have a ‘right to respect’?
• Is there a ‘right to offend’?
• At what point does free speech infringe on the rights of people to worship and practice their religion freely?
• Is free speech under threat?