ABSTRACT
In a judgment issued in 1980, the European Commission on Human Rights did not consider that a particular belief or faith could derive form the notion of freedom of religion a right that would exempt it from criticism. Some people believe that the legal right of response established under Article 13 of the French Law on Freedom of the Press of 29 July 1881 should be able to be exercised before an action for defamation or slander is brought before the courts. Believers or their institutions may therefore consider it sufficient to make a simple demand to publish an article in response to an accusation. The elasticity and volatility of press law does not offer believers sufficient protection of the beliefs they express. Recourse to the court is neither a panacea nor an effective remedy given that, the harm is already done and any compensation for the 'media harassment' is highly uncertain and inadequate.
