As for liberty of speech, since effective participation in democratic procedures require openness of political discussion and exchange of information, liberty of speech should be guaranteed. Yet, in balancing between civil liberty of speech and security right against psychological harm, it seems that the latter should take precedence over the former: and hence blasphemous speech, which is not necessary for social life, should be prohibited to protect the majority of Muslims in religious democracy from the severest harm of blasphemy. Nevertheless, non- Muslims can enjoy having freedom of speech in the absence of religious citizens and in their own associations.

[٢]

One more restriction to freedom of speech comes from the religiosity of this form of democracy. Since in religious democracy the basic structure of society is constructed on the basis of religious values, whilst minorities possess the freedom of speech, they are not justified to threaten the basic conviction of Islam by propagation. In other words, whilst every member of society has the freedom of speech, public propagation against basic principles of Islam is not permissible: because it threatens the basic structure of religious democracy.

[٣]

Hence, in balancing the minorities' right to freedom of speech against the majorities' right to spiritual progress, as defined by Islamic ethical theory, the former should be restricted for the full realisation of the latter. Put another way, whilst equality of individuals is recognised by religious democracy, equality of doctrines is denied. Hence, what is conceived by the majority as true is superior to alternative false doctrines.

Welfare Rights- As for welfare rights, they derive from ' human dignity' as an underlying value, which simultaneously accounts for the worth of democracy. These rights include cases such as income, health, education and spiritual progress. The necessity of guaranteeing a minimum level of these benefits is human dignity, which stems from the

[١] -،-- ،. ١٩٧.، ١٢

[٢] - : ٨١، ٤٣- ١٤٠، ٤، ٣

[٣] -،،(:، ٢٠٠٥)،. ٩٤- ١٠١.