HONOR OF RELIGIOUS CONFESSIONS BEFORE THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE CHURCH OF THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

Many religious entities are subject to defamatory expressions or accusations of unlawful or criminal acts that harm their honor, the religious feelings of their members and even can determine the freedom of religious choice of others. It is necessary to apply the rules of conflict between freedom of expression and honor (in this case of a private legal entity) to see whether freedom of expression prevails or whether we are dealing with unlawful defamatory acts. We will analyze this tension based on the activities of a Spanish association and several documentaries published in the media and social networks that denigrate the Jehovah's Witnesses. We analyze these facts in the light of constitutional jurisprudence and that of the European Court of Human Rights.