RESPONSIBLE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE PROTECTION OF SACRED VALUES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RELIGIOUS ETHICS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between freedom of expression and the protection of sacred values through a comparative analysis of five major religious traditions Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism—alongside international human rights law and constitutional practice. Contrary to popular discourse, which frequently frames these principles as inherently conflicting, this research demonstrates that both religious ethics and international legal frameworks recognize expressive liberty as a fundamental value that coexists with corresponding responsibilities toward truthfulness, human dignity, and social harmony. The study develops a Responsible Freedom of Expression Framework (RFEF) that integrates comparative religious ethics with international human rights law, offering a constructive model for addressing contemporary challenges in multicultural societies. The framework proposes that democratic governance should protect robust public discourse while encouraging ethical responsibility, interreligious respect, and the preservation of sacred values, thereby strengthening both individual liberty and social cohesion.