Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who has been holed up in an embassy in London for more than a year, is to deliver the traditional faith spot on Radio 4's Today program.
The controversial Australian, who has been granted asylum by Ecuador but is unable to leave the country's embassy because he would be arrested, will be given the Thought For The Day slot on Thursday.
He has been chosen by guest editor PJ Harvey to speak on the news show, which will also feature contributions from another Australian, campaigning journalist John Pilger.
Harvey's program will also include a further Thought from the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, in the form of a poem.
The singer said she was assured by the BBC that her guests she had chosen would not be edited.
The Thought For The Day slot is usually a pause for reflection from a spiritual perspective and speakers from a variety of religions have contributed.
Harvey is one of a number of guest editors commissioned by the program each year over the Christmas-New Year period.
A statement issued on the singer's behalf said: "Having received a guarantee from the BBC not to edit her contributors, Harvey carefully selects a diverse group with thought-provoking views."
Assange entered the Ecuadorian embassy while he faced extradition to Sweden to face rape allegations and he was given asylum in August 2012.
Harvey's Today program will be broadcast from 6am (1700 AEDT) on Thursday and will feature poems read by actor Ralph Fiennes including William Blake's London.
There will also be song extracts from Tom Waits, Joan Baez and Kiwi comedy duo Flight Of The Conchords.
