"Blasphemy, insults of a religious nature and instigation to religious hatred": this is one the topics that will be addressed by the Commission for Democracy through Right, also known as the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, that will hold its seventieth meeting in the Italian city on March 16th and 17th. "Freedom of expression and freedom of religion do not clash with each other; they are actually two sides of the same coin, both essential rights, inalienable aspects of a peaceful cohabitation and modern democratic life", explains to SIR Simona Granata, at the helm of the Secretariat of the Venice Commission. "This is a topic that is called for in a multicultural reality", explains the jurist, who recalls the resolution on freedom of expression and the respect of the religious beliefs that was launched last year by the Parliamentary assembly of the CoE. "We have conducted a survey on the relevant legislation in Europe specifies Granata and we found very different situations". Ten countries were surveyed, including Albania, Denmark, Ireland, Poland, Turkey, the United Kingdom. "We found very different positions, some insist more on freedom of expression, others ask for more respect for believers and their sensitivity. It is urgent to extend the debate by involving public opinion and the mass media as well".
