Freedom of Expression is an essential right, widely recognized in a democratic society. However, there is no consensus on the limits of the esteemed freedom, especially in regard to religious offense, because it involves beliefs and values regarded as sacred. Based on the fact that the establishment of precise limits for religious offense is an especially delicate issue in countries with a very religious population - as is the case of Brazil -, the importance of this Thesis is emphasized. The first challenge is to explore issues that involve the conceptualization of hate speech: would it be an offense related to belief, and not to the person or group of people, capable of affecting the dignity of the offended? Who should decide which cases will be covered by the freedom of speech? From the analysis of foreign doctrine and jurisprudence, this Master s Thesis proposes, mainly, that judicial decisions involving hate speech should be guided by specific criteria that may assist the magistrate in the decision making process. Therefore, it is essential to reflect on the importance of international standards and their possible application in the Brazilian system.