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Censorship
By media
Banned books · Banned films Re-edited film · Internet · Music Press · Radio  · Thought Speech and expression Video games
Methods
Book burning · Bleeping Broadcast delay · Chilling effect Conspiracy of silence Content-control software Euphemism · Expurgation Gag order · Heckling · Memory hole Pixelization · Postal Prior restraint · Revisionism Self-censorship · Speech code Whitewashing · Verbal offence Strategic lawsuit
Contexts
Corporate · Political · Religious Ideological · Criminal speech Hate speech · Media bias Suppression of dissent
By country
Censorship · Freedom of speech

Verbal offence (or 'offence of the word') is a crime that exists in many countries that impose limitations on freedom of speech. It refers to dissent and/or blasphemy. Laws that penalize "verbal offences" are often used as an instrument of government and state oppression.

"Verbal offence" exists in the legal systems of communist states and in sharia law, but also in many European countries.

See also

• Religious police
• Speech code
• Political correctness