The Perception of Religious Institutions on the Freedom of Expression - Article 29(2) and the Broadcasting Proclamation no. 533 Article 23/2007 in Focus
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of religious organizations on the
freedom of expression - Article 29 (2) and the broadcasting proclamation No. 533 Article
23/2007 in focus. The researcher employed qualitative methodology with individual indepth
interviews and focus group discussions as data gathering tools. The theoretical
framework employed was political economy theory of mass communication. Despite the
fact that the Freedom of the Press has been granted as per Article 29 sub article 2 of the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority has not
allowed religious institutions to own broadcast stations for religious purposes. This
research is designed to address the issue of this phenomenon, that is, the religious
institutions have not been able to secure the permission to broadcast as per the provisions
of the Constitution.
The overall finding of this study shows the perception of religious organizations on
freedom of expression Article 29 sub article 2 and the broadcasting proclamation No. 533
Article 23/2007 is that they didn't observe the two articles as adversaries. Though the
proclamation seems contradictory to that ofthe constitutional right given, since it is done
for the safety of the nation, and for peaceful coexistence of the general public because
religion is Parisian and if it is allowed there may be attacking one to another, they didn't
oppose the restriction and it could not be a barrier for their right to freedom of religious
broadcasting. While, with insignificant exceptions; said, while the main objective of
religion is to promote positive values to the society, why it is considered as a threat , it
raises a question on the blanket prohibition and it is a barrier for our right to the freedom
of religious broadcasting.
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Keywords
Religious Institutions, Broadcasting Proclamation