The BBC has today issued new guidelines on editorial principles pertaining to religion which have increased restrictions on free speech, in particular freedom to criticise religious belief or practice.

The previous guidelines, from 2005, already gave particular respect to sensitivity surrounding certain deities, rituals, scripture, language and the observance of holy days and principal festivals.

The new guidelines expand on this, additionally stipulating that, “Religion and religious views may be criticised but we should ensure there is appropriate context and critical views are open to challenge” and “Any content dealing with matters of religion and likely to cause offence to those with religious views and beliefs must be editorially justified as judged against generally accepted standards and must be referred to a senior editorial figure or, for independents, to the commissioning editor.” In other words, criticism of religion must not go unchallenged, and any serious criticism must receive approval from a senior editorial figure.

BHA Campaigns Officer Pepper Harow commented, ‘It is a shame that the BBC has given in to pressure from religious groups to introduce additional restrictions on the criticism of religion. Obviously it would be wrong to allow incitement to violence or to purposely try to offend people because of their sincerely held beliefs but these guidelines go further than this; they protect religion from any unchallenged criticism and require senior approval for any content that religious people may consider offensive. As any discussion on the sensitive issue of beliefs has the potential to offend someone, the new guidelines represent a serious curtailment of free speech.’

Notes

Read the new 2010 BBC Editorial Guidelines on Religion, and the old 2005 BBC Religion Editorial Principles.

Find out more about the BHA’s work on Broadcasting.

For information or comment, please contact Pepper Harow on 020 7462 4992.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity representing and supporting the interests of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.