Freedom of Speech and Its Principles and Scope in the View of Fiqh and Law

«Freedom of speech» is a kind of social freedom. Using a descriptive-analytical approach، the present paper studies the principles and scope of freedom of speech in the light of the view of Islamic fiqh and according to internal and international law. The research findings indicate that، in the view of fiqh، freedom of speech is based on several such things like commanding the good and forbidding the bad، advice and well-wishing، consultation، necessity of telling the truth and prohibition of concealing it and so on. Furthermore، freedom of speech، according to Islam، is not absolute and is limited to several religious limitations such as heresy، blasphemy، denying the necessities of religion، slandering against God، denying divine verses and signs، ridicule and mockery and so on. In internal law and regulations، Islamic injunctions and standards، common interests and good are emphasized as the principles of freedom of speech and offending holy things is forbidden. In international documents، the principles and limits of freedom of speech are more material.